CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Churches: Repairs and Maintenance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what recent discussions the Church Commissioners have had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on heritage grant funding for church repairs.

Stuart Bell: Representatives of the Church of England have regularly met with a number of Government Departments, namely HM Treasury, DCLG, DEFRA, Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and DCMS.
	These discussions have culminated in the joint publication of guidance entitled 'Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential'. The guidance seeks to help faith groups access existing resources and help funders understand the important role of faith groups in delivering public services. Specifically, it identifies funding for the physical alteration and modification of churches and other faith buildings to ensure they are fit for community use.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Hamas

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the organisers of the meeting held on the Parliamentary estate on 22 April 2009 involving a video link with a senior leader of Hamas sought the approval of the House of Commons Commission beforehand; what representations the Commission received from hon. Members opposing the video link from taking place; what response the Commission gave; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons Commission has no role in approving Members' choice of participants in video-linked meetings.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental ICT

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions arising from the operation of ICT systems in his Department under the Greening Government ICT Strategy.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office has a Green ICT strategy in place, derived from the Cabinet Office "Greening Government ICT" strategy. The Northern Ireland Office Board is committed to implementing the strategy's 51 recommendations, where practicable. To date, 29 recommendations have already been addressed or are under active consideration, including a commitment that new ICT equipment will comply with at least one of the green energy standards. This is now incorporated into all centralised procurement framework agreements.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Council England: Grants

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England awarded in grants in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 8 May 2009
	Arts Council England has advised that the following has been awarded in grants in 2007-08. Figures for 2008-09 are currently being prepared and are not yet available.
	
		
			   £ 
			  Grant  in  aid 2007- 08  
			 Regularly Funded Organisations 314,916,000 
			 Grants for the Arts-Individuals 9,729,000 
			 Strategic Funding and Activities (Managed Funds) 16,273,000 
			 Creative Partnerships 17,461,000 
			 Other restricted funds 16,482,000 
			 Lapsed and revoked commitments -1,151,000 
			 Total grant in aid funding grants 373,710,000 
			   
			  Lottery funding 2007-08  
			 Grant commitments made in the year 99,551,000 
			 Lapsed and revoked commitments -8,655,000 
			 Total lottery funding 90,896,000 
			   
			 Total grant funding 464,606,000

Casinos

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many licensed casinos were in operation in each local authority area under the provisions of  (a) the Gambling Act 1968 and  (b) the Gambling Act 2005 in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission have advised that to date there have been no premises licences issued under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 in relation to casinos.
	The Gambling Act1968 has seen casinos located in 53 distinct 'permitted areas' in which the licensing of clubs for gaming other than bingo is permitted.
	Details of the number of casinos operating in each permitted area for each year can be found in the annual reports of the Gambling Commission and its predecessor, the Gaming Board. Copies of these reports are laid in the Library and are also available on the Gambling Commission's website at:
	www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Departmental Contracts

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which services his Department has outsourced in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has not outsourced any new services within the last five years. A number of services have been outsourced prior to this period such as:
	Facilities Management,
	Information Technology,
	Catering Services,
	Records Management, and
	Mailroom Services.

Departmental Dismissal

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many members of staff in his Department and its agency were dismissed  (a) for under-performance and  (b) in total in each of the last 10 years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is as follows.
	
		
			   Underperformance  Total dismissals 
			   DCMS  Royal Parks Agency  DCMS  Royal Parks Agency 
			 1999 0 0 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 0 0 
			 2001 0 1 0 1 
			 2002 0 1 0 1 
			 2003 0 0 0 1 
			 2004 0 1 0 1 
			 2005 0 0 0 0 
			 2006 0 0 0 0 
			 2007 0 0 0 0 
			 2008 0 0 1 0 
			 2009 0 0 1 0 
			 Total 0 3 2 4

Departmental ICT

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions arising from the operation of ICT systems in his Department under the Greening Government ICT Strategy.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department, in line with all other Chief Information Officers (CIOs) on the CIO Council, has produced a "CIO Green ICT Roadmap" which we will be following to deliver against the 18 target improvement areas outlined in the Greening Government ICT Strategy.
	My Department has identified Green ICT as one of our key priorities for the coming year. As part of this, we have led a cross-Government exercise to procure a standard tool to allow departments to safely shut down desktop PCs overnight and out of hours. This software has now been installed on all machines in my Department to ensure that all unused machines are shut down outside working hours.

Departmental Work Experience

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many work placements his Department offered to  (a) school pupils,  (b) university students and  (c) graduates in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DCMS do not offer work placements to school pupils. However, DCMS has taken part in the Cabinet Office Summer Work Placement scheme for university students and graduates from under-represented groups. In the last five years we have taken five placements per year.

English Heritage: Educational Visits

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on the  (a) administration,  (b) staffing and  (c) advertisement and promotion of the English Heritage free educational visits scheme in each year since the introduction of the scheme.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 5 May 2009
	English Heritage introduced free entry for educational groups to its sites as one of its first acts after its creation in 1984. However, the figures requested are only available for the years from 1996-97 and these represent the total spend on education in each year. It is not possible to separate out how much is spent on free educational visits alone, or to break down the total as requested. The available figures are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			Of which : 
			   Total expenditure on education  Payroll  Marketing and promotion 
			 1996-97 1,083,870 342,575 365,802 
			 1997-98 961,479 265,498 491,661 
			 1998-99 814,314 274,472 422,639 
			 1999-2000 972,013 361,021 540,461 
			 2000-01 1,059,290 408,818 509,290 
			 2001-02 1,101,696 436,462 659,799 
			 2002-03 1,182,071 556,628 597,433 
			 2003-04 1,416,248 659,582 546,356 
			 2004-05 1,335,050 695,672 487,447 
			 2005-06 1,445,448 630,006 213,539 
			 2006-07 1,503,366 649,604 390,713 
			 2007-08 1,429,012 698,122 475,614 
			 2008-09 1,466,873 727,583 335,125

Funding

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much funding the Community Fund has  (a) committed and  (b) distributed since its creation;
	(2)  how much funding the Big Lottery Fund has  (a) committed and  (b) distributed since its creation.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 8 May 2009
	The Big Lottery Fund has advised that from 1 December 2006, when it was legally created from the merger of the Community Fund, New Opportunities Fund and Millennium Commission it has awarded £1,898 million and distributed £1,433 million to grant recipients.
	The distribution includes outstanding payments to Community Fund, New Opportunities Fund and Millennium Commission grant holders.
	In the period from the Community Fund's inception in 1993 until 30 November 2006, it awarded £3,863 million and distributed £2,926 million to grant recipients.
	The Community Fund's first grants were awarded in October 1995, following their legal creation in 1993. Many Community Fund projects are still in management and delivering benefits to communities. They therefore are still drawing money down from their grant allocation.

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the number of people being treated for gambling addiction.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not centrally collate statistics on the number of people being treated for gambling addiction at any one time.
	In 2008 the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT) estimated that of the 0.6 per cent. of the adult population categorised as problem gamblers, 0.5 per cent. were accessing treatment from RIGT funded treatment providers, on an annual basis.
	The Gambling Commission is currently considering whether to include specific questions on the awareness of treatment services in the next British Gambling Prevalence Survey which will be published in 2010.

Gambling

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of online gambling companies based overseas which operate in the UK which  (a) contribute and  (b) do not contribute to funding of problem gambling services; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 8 May 2009
	My Department does not collect statistics on the number of overseas based operators contributing to the funding of problem gambling services in the UK.
	However, we are aware that some operators based in Alderney, Gibraltar and Malta contributed on a voluntary basis to the Responsibility in Gambling Trust last year.
	Additionally, a number of companies licensed for premises-based operations in the UK contribute significantly towards research, education and treatment of problem gambling in the UK and have remote gambling operations that are based in European Union or white listed jurisdictions.

Heritage and Culture Sector Club: VisitBritain

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what functions the Heritage and Culture Sector Club has in relation to VisitBritain.

Barbara Follett: The Heritage and Culture Sector Club provides VisitBritain with a forum to disseminate important consumer and market intelligence in order to encourage appropriate product development in heritage and culture specific areas.
	This work informs VisitBritain's marketing campaigns and encourages the spread of best practice within the tourism industry.

Internet: English Language

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent progress has been made on the proposal to establish international rules for the operation of English language websites; and what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on the matter.

Barbara Follett: I remain keen to discuss an international approach to areas of public concern about certain internet content and look forward to engaging with the appropriate member of the US Administration once the relevant appointment has been made.

Licensing

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent research his Department has commissioned to assess the effectiveness of the operation of premises licences.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 8 May 2009
	While specific research has not been commissioned on this matter, the Government continue to monitor the effect of the Licensing Act 2003. On 4 March 2008, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a written ministerial statement on the evaluation of the impact of the 2003 Act, which can be read at
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/minister _speeches/1997.aspx
	Copies of the written ministerial statement are also available in the House Library.

Local Press

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will commission research into the  (a) financial viability of local newspapers and  (b) number of journalists employed by local newspapers in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: There are no plans by Government to commission this research. However, on 28 April I hosted a local media summit involving key figures from across the media industry to discuss the challenges facing local newspapers and explore how we can support the local media industry in meeting these challenges so that it can continue to thrive in the future. These discussions will feed into the final Digital Britain report to be published by the Government in the summer.

Sports Equity Alliance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding  (a) his Department,  (b) Sport England and  (c) UK Sport has provided to each member of Sport England's Sports Equity Alliance in each of the last five years; and how much each has allocated to each member of the Alliance in the next expenditure round.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not fund Sport England's Sports Equity Alliance directly. Funding is channelled through Sport England and UK Sport.
	Sport England has advised that its core revenue funding to Equity Partners over the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   English Federation of Disability Sport  Sporting Equals  Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation 
			 2004-05 1,050,000 140,000 200,000 
			 2005-06 1,050,000 140,000 200,000 
			 2006-07 1,010,333 319,334 462,333 
			 2007-08 951,066 317,066 419,898 
			 2008-09 1,100,000 376,419 541,250 
			 2009-10 (first quarter)(1) 275,000 81,604 135,125 
			 (1 )Funding has been awarded for the first quarter only of 2009-10 pending consideration by Sport England of applications from the equity partners that detail how they propose working to support National Governing Bodies and other sport deliverers in the period 2009-11. 
		
	
	UK Sport has advised that it has provided the following funding to each member of Sport England's Sports Equity Alliance over the past five years:
	
		
			  Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (formerly the Women's Sports Foundation) 
			   Funding from UK Sport (£) 
			 2004-05 8,659.50 
			 2005-06 8,641.35 
			 2006-07 8,800.25 
			 2007-08 376 
			 2008-09 229.13 
		
	
	
		
			  Sporting Equals 
			   Funding from UK Sport (£) 
			 2004-05 356.67 
			 2005-06 98.56 
			 2006-07 2,553.65 
			 2007-08 2,749.38 
			 2008-09 4,020 
		
	
	
		
			  English Federation of Disability Sport 
			   Funding from UK Sport (£) 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 0 
			 2008-09 0

Sports: Training

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many voluntary community sports coaches have been recruited under the Recruit into Coaching scheme since its inception.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 8 May 2009
	Sport England have advised that 2,389 voluntary community sports coaches have been recruited under the Recruit into Coaching scheme since its inception.

Swimming Pools

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public swimming pools  (a) closed and  (b) opened in England in 2008.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England advise that the figures for 2008 have not yet been collated, but should be available in the summer.

Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 22W, on trade unions, what office facilities his Department provides for the exclusive use of each recognised trade union; and what the notional annual value of such provision is.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department have one full-time trade union representative. The Department provide a desk, computer and telephone in the open plan office area. The trade union representative also has access to other shared office facilities such as meeting rooms, photocopying, scanning and faxing.
	The cost per annum of providing accommodation and office facilities per full time equivalent is £11,939.

VisitBritain: Finance

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make an estimate of the effect on  (a) the British economy and  (b) Exchequer revenues which would arise from an increase in (i) £10 million, (ii) £20 million and (iii) £50 million to the planned VisitBritain budget in each of the next five years.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain's grant in aid for the period 2011 to 2014 will be considered in due course. An increase of £10 million or £20 million over and above their current baseline funding would be deployed on above the line marketing activity. VisitBritain and Visit England would also seek to achieve 50 per cent. match funding from industry partners in line with such increases.
	The additional visitor spend and tax revenue generated by such investment would significantly depend on the economic situation during the next five years and its impact on global airline traffic. VisitBritain and Visit England would currently expect to spend an increase of £50 million in each of the next five years not only on above the line marketing activity, but also on brand building and the development of new markets.
	Again, the benefits would be influenced by economic developments in the wider economy. More detailed analysis and a larger planning exercise would be required to calculate the benefits over this period. In preparing for the next Spending Round, the Department will consider with VisitBritain a range of scenarios examining the economic impact of each.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Pollution: Torbay

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent assessment is of air quality in the Torbay local authority area; and what steps the Government are taking to improve air quality in the area.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Local authorities have a duty under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess the current, and likely future, air quality in their areas, and to submit reports on local air quality to DEFRA.
	Where local authorities consider that one or more nationally prescribed air quality objectives is unlikely to be met by the relevant deadline, they must declare an air quality management area (AQMA) covering the area affected. These local authorities must then take action, along with other agencies and organisations, to work towards meeting the air quality objectives. Torbay council declared AQMAs in respect of nitrogen dioxide objectives in April 2005 and May 2006. The council has produced an action plan setting out the measures it is implementing in order to improve air quality in the area. Since local road transport is the primary cause of local air pollution in these AQMAs, Torbay council has integrated its air quality action plan into the Torbay Local Transport Plan 2006-2011, a copy of which is available at:
	www.torbay.gov.uk
	DEFRA has assessed, and is satisfied with Torbay council's 2008 progress report, and we await the council's air quality report for 2009.
	The Government provide guidance and practical support to assist local authorities with their duties on review and assessment of air quality, and to ensure consistency and best practice. Revised and updated guidance was published in February on the DEFRA website at:
	www.defra.gov.uk
	The Government also fund several helplines which local authorities can contact for practical and technical advice on monitoring, modelling, emission inventories and air quality action plan measures. All local authorities are invited each year to bid for air quality grant aid, and applications are considered and awards made towards the cost of air quality projects in local areas.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to announce which areas have been chosen for the bovine tuberculosis wildlife vaccination pilot.

Jane Kennedy: We have been working in liaison with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England, epidemiologists and other key industry and stakeholder groups to identify criteria for selecting the areas where the bovine TB badger vaccine deployment project will take place. We anticipate the areas will be announced shortly.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the veterinary profession and its representatives on  (a) the Government's strategy for dealing with bovine tuberculosis and  (b) means of communicating that strategy through the work of veterinary surgeons.

Jane Kennedy: The Bovine TB Eradication Group includes representatives from DEFRA's Food and Farming Group, Animal Health, the farming industry and the veterinary profession.
	In addition, the TB Advisory Group, which played a key role in obtaining stakeholder buy-in to TB control policies, also included representatives from the veterinary profession. The group disbanded on 8 April after publishing its final report to Ministers.
	As part of planning for the badger vaccine deployment project, we have recently met with representatives of key veterinary organisations to discuss both their input into the project and the best ways of communicating to and through local vets.
	Also on a recent visit to the south-west I met local animal health vets and affected farmers to learn of the growing TB problem and the challenge of tackling the disease.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to tackle testing fatigue among  (a) farmers and  (b) veterinary surgeons in relation to testing for bovine tuberculosis.

Jane Kennedy: I am aware from discussions with representatives from the farming industry and veterinary profession, and the recent report from our TB Advisory Group, that testing fatigue can become an issue in areas with high numbers of TB breakdowns. We are considering the report in detail.
	The TB Eradication Group for England (TBEG) was set up last year to consider, and advise on, the TB control framework, including the cattle testing programme. Part of their remit is to look at options for helping farmers in high incidence areas maintain viable businesses, which may include options for managing the impact of TB controls on the farming industry and the veterinary profession.
	Regular skin testing of cattle herds is an important part of our TB programme, both for tackling disease in cattle and ensuring the risk to public health remains low. Regular TB testing is also legally required if herd owners wish to retain their officially tuberculosis free (OTF) status and their ability to trade.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been prosecuted under sections 1(3), 3(1) and 3(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under sections 1(3), 3(1) and 3(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England and Wales for the years 2006-07 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Statute  Offence description  2006  2007 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 1(3) Possession, without exemption, of a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa or other designated fighting dog. 8 87 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(1) Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person. 703 667 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(1) Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, no injury being caused. 278 341 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non-public place and injure any person. 54 50 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec 3(3) Owner or person in charge allowing dog to enter a non- public place causing reasonable apprehension of injury to a person. 19 22 
			 Total  1,062 1,167 
			 1. These data are on the principal offence basis. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Court proceedings data held by CJEAU—Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice. Our Ref: IOS 239-09 (Table).

Tourism: Rural Areas

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 381W, on tourism: rural areas, how much of the £35 million was devolved to each of the regional development agencies.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Each regional development agency (RDA) has been provided with an indicative budget for the entire programming period (2007-13) to enable them to deliver the full range of regional priorities. The figure of £35 million is an indicative allocation to the programme measure that provides for support for rural tourism. It is for each RDA to determine the actual level of spend and this will be influenced by a range of factors, including the number and quality of projects coming forward and changes to regional priorities agreed during the programming period.

Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 439W, on trade unions, which trade unions his Department's agencies recognise.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department's agencies recognise PCS, Prospect and FDA trade unions, all of which are members of the Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU).

Water Charges

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Ofwat undertook an impact assessment of the implementation of its proposals for water rate structures on community groups and churches.

Huw Irranca-Davies: In 2003 Ofwat reported the outcome of its review of company charging polices for surface water drainage. It concluded that site area charging was the fairest method of charging non-households for surface water drainage.
	Ofwat said at the time that companies which are thinking about implementing site area charging would need to consider the impact on individual customers' bills and the potential negative effects associated with charging for sensitive properties. Ofwat also highlighted that companies would need to take into account the scale and speed of any bill changes to see if they were reasonable and acceptable to customers.
	It is for the companies to undertake the appropriate impact assessments of any changes in their charging policies on their customers.

TRANSPORT

Departmental Air Conditioning

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 since the Regulations entered into force.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport has spent a total of £32,925.20 on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (2007/991).

Departmental Air Travel

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 477W, on departmental carbon emissions, what the figures for  (a) domestic,  (b) short-haul and  (c) long-haul air travel for 2007-08 are.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport's contribution to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund for 2007-08 was based on the following mileage:  (a) domestic 694,279 miles,  (b) short-haul 821,645 miles, and  (c) long-haul 1,940,261 miles.

Departmental Capital Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1413W, on departmental capital expenditure, what progress his Department has made in allocating the £700 million capital spending advanced to 2009-10.

Geoff Hoon: Pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1413W, on capital expenditure, the £700 million advanced to 2009-10 has been allocated as follows: £400 million to the Highways Agency for strategic network road improvements, including dualling the A46 Newark to Widmerpool and £300 million to the Rail group for train procurement.

Departmental Consultants

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies spent on consultancy contracts in 2008-09.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport spent £57.3 million on consultancy in 2008-09 and its Executive Agencies spent £20.9 million on consultancy in 2008-09.

Departmental ICT

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions arising from the operation of ICT systems in his Department under the Greening Government ICT Strategy.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 797-98W.

Departmental Manpower

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people work in his Department's Communications Directorate.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 8 May 2009,  Official Report, column 486W.

Departmental Rail Travel

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues on whether members of staff may claim for travel in first class carriages on trains if there are no seats in standard class.

Geoff Hoon: Rules relating to travel claims are set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Training

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the practice of holding departmental away days outside the Department's buildings.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport and its agencies hold staff away days as part of its commitment to staff and team development. The Head of the business area arranging the event will determine whether to hold the away day outside the Department's buildings. The underlying assumption is that the Department's own building will be used where appropriate.

Driving: Licensing

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) provisional and (b) full driving licences were issued in each year since 1998.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of provisional licences issued in each financial year since 1998-99 are:
	
		
			  Financial year  Provisional licences issued 
			 1998-99 760,049 
			 1999-2000 616,720 
			 2000-01 685,921 
			 2001-02 792,603 
			 2002-03 867,626 
			 2003-04 915,232 
			 2004-05 906,523 
			 2005-06 958,698 
			 2006-07 1,002,386 
			 2007-08 1,045,498 
			 2008-09 954,204 
		
	
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not record the volumes of how many drivers exchanged their provisional licence for a full licence. However, we do record the number of drivers who have passed their test, as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number 
			 1998-99 580,880 
			 1999-2000 580,223 
			 2000-01 605,661 
			 2001-02 614,608 
			 2002-03 651,566 
			 2003-04 673,129 
			 2004-05 779,440 
			 2005-06 837,472 
			 2006-07 831,545 
			 2007-08 856,523 
			 2008-09 873,539

Government Car and Despatch Agency: Pay

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time staff employed at the Government Car and Despatch Agency in London earn less than £15,944 per annum.

Geoff Hoon: The Government Car and Despatch Agency has no full-time employees earning £15,944 per annum or less.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Windsor of 3 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 49-50W, what progress has been made on the introduction of electronic motor insurance certificates; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A first draft of regulations has been prepared and is being discussed internally and with the motor insurance industry.
	We aim to lay regulations before the end of the year, if the proposed approach proves to be practicable.

Railways: Franchises

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with National Express on its East Coast Main Line franchise; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: holding answer 8 May 2009
	Under the Franchise Agreement, a Franchise Performance Meeting between Department for Transport officials and National Express East Coast is held every four weeks to discuss the delivery of its franchise agreement and obligations. The last such meeting took place on 23 April 2009.

Railways: Tickets

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train operating companies are required under the terms of their franchise agreements to introduce smart ticketing.

Paul Clark: The following franchises have a requirement within the terms of their franchise to introduce or accept ITSO based smartcard ticketing:
	South West Trains
	London Midland
	East Midlands Trains
	National Express East Coast
	Cross Country
	The new South Central franchise will also include similar provisions.

Railways: Tickets

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements regarding smart ticketing he will place on the operating company awarded the South Central franchise currently under tender.

Paul Clark: In line with all recent franchise competitions, the operator of the new South Central Franchise will be required to introduce an ITSO based smartcard ticketing system across the franchise, with the scheme introduced by January 2012.
	With regard to the introduction of Oyster Pay As You Go within the London area the operator will be required to work with Transport for London and the Department for Transport to secure its implementation.

Railways: Tickets

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made on delivering the commitments made in the 2007 White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway on smart ticketing; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The introduction of ITSO smartcards has been mandated in all recently let rail franchises and will be included in the South Central franchise.
	The Department for Transport, Transport for London and train operators are working together on the acceptance of Oyster Pay As You Go at London train stations and the acceptance of ITSO Smartcards on Oyster equipment.

Rushenden Link Road

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding stakeholders have committed to the Rushenden Link Road project.

Paul Clark: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) jointly committed a total of £12 million for the Rushenden Link Road scheme in June 2006. The HCA (formerly Communities and Local Government) made £9 million available through their Thames Gateway programme fund, with the remaining £3 million coming from SEEDA.

Rushenden Link Road

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who the funding stakeholders for the Rushenden Link Road project are.

Paul Clark: The South East England Development Agency and the Homes and Communities Agency (formerly with the Communities and Local Government) are the key funding stakeholders for the Rushenden Link Road project and jointly committed £12 million to fund the scheme in June 2006.

Shipping: Pollution

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold discussions at EU level to seek to establish a low emission shipping zone in European coastal waters.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A Sulphur Oxides (SOx) Emission Control Area has been in force in the North Sea area (including the English Channel) since 2007. Since then, the UK has played a significant role in the development of the revised MARPOL Annex VI which the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted last year and which will result in a further significant reduction of emissions from ships of sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides, and improved air quality in our coastal regions. We consistently seek to develop measures to reduce ship emissions in forums such as the IMO and the European Union.

Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 366W, on trade unions, which trade unions his Department's agencies recognise.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport's agencies recognise the following trade unions:
	Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency—Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS),
	Maritime and Coastguard Agency—PCS, Prospect and Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA),
	Highways Agency—PCS, Prospect and FDA,
	Driving Standards Agency—PCS,
	Vehicle and Operator Services Agency—PCS, Prospect and Unite/Amicus
	Vehicle Certification Agency—PCS and Prospect
	Government Car and Despatch Agency—PCS, Prospect and Unite.

Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 366W, on trades unions, what office facilities his Department provides for the exclusive use of each recognised trade union; and what the notional annual value of such provision is.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, the Driving Standards Agency and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency provide trade unions with office facilities for exclusive use.
	The notional annual value of such provision is £81,231,

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions: Housing

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding is in place to encourage the construction of zero-carbon homes.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 20 January 2009
	 The following initiatives currently provide financial support to encourage the construction of zero carbon homes:
	Stamp Duty Land Tax Exemption—Stamp Duty relief for zero carbon homes was announced in Budget 2007 to act as an incentive to developers of new zero carbon homes. The exemption covers the first acquisition of a zero carbon home costing up to £500,000. For homes costing in excess of £500,000 there will be a reduction of £15,000. The exemption is in place for all new homes for a period of five years ending on 30 September 2012.
	Zero Carbon Hub—The Zero Carbon Hub, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, was launched in June 2008 to guide, monitor and coordinate the zero carbon home programme. In 2008-09, the Department for Communities and Local Government provided approximately £250,000 of grant funding to the Hub to help with set up costs.

Departmental Air Conditioning

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how many of his Department's buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with greater than 250kW of output; how many of these systems have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each inspection report;
	(2)  how much has been spent by his Department on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007.

Joan Ruddock: The Department occupies one building which falls within the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings (certificates and inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. The cost of carrying out the inspection of the air-conditioning system was £1,437.50. A copy of the inspection report will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Fuel Poverty

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) people and  (b) households were in fuel poverty in each local authority area in each year since 2000; and what the Government's target for fuel poverty reduction was in each such year.

Joan Ruddock: Since 2000, fuel poverty data at a sub-regional level are only available for 2003, for England. The data for fuel poverty levels for 2003 come from the Fuel Poverty Indicator dataset available online at:
	http://www.fuelpovertyindicator.co.uk/
	The following table shows estimated fuel poverty levels for each local authority in England in 2003:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Allerdale 2,700 
			 Barrow in Furness 2,200 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 3,900 
			 Blackpool 4,400 
			 Bolton 7,100 
			 Burnley 2,700 
			 Bury 4,700 
			 Carlisle 2,900 
			 Chester 3,100 
			 Chorley 2,600 
			 Congleton 2,200 
			 Copeland 2,100 
			 Crewe and Nantwich 3,000 
			 Eden 1,500 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston 2,100 
			 Fylde 2,000 
			 Halton 3,200 
			 Hyndburn 2,400 
			 Knowsley 4,200 
			 Lancaster 3,700 
			 Liverpool 14,200 
			 Macclesfield 3,700 
			 Manchester 11,900 
			 Oldham 5,700 
			 Pendle 2,600 
			 Preston 3,600 
			 Ribble Valley 1,400 
			 Rochdale 5,500 
			 Rossendale 1,800 
			 Salford 6,400 
			 Sefton 8,000 
			 South Lakeland 2,800 
			 South Ribble 2,500 
			 St Helens 4,900 
			 Stockport 7,300 
			 Tameside 5,800 
			 Trafford 5,500 
			 Vale Royal 3,100 
			 Warrington 4,800 
			 West Lancashire 2,800 
			 Wigan 8,300 
			 Wirral 9,200 
			 Wyre 2,900 
			  North West Total 187,400 
			   
			 Adur 1,400 
			 Arun 3,500 
			 Ashford 2,500 
			 Aylesbury Vale 3,600 
			 Basingstoke and Deane 3,400 
			 Bracknell Forest 2,200 
			 Brighton and Hove 6,500 
			 Canterbury 3,300 
			 Cherwell 2,900 
			 Chichester 2,600 
			 Chiltern 1,900 
			 Crawley 2,100 
			 Dartford 2,000 
			 Dover 2,900 
			 East Hampshire 2,400 
			 Eastbourne 2,400 
			 Eastleigh 2,500 
			 Elmbridge 2,700 
			 Epsom and Ewell 1,400 
			 Fareham 2,400 
			 Gosport 1,900 
			 Gravesham 2,300 
			 Guildford 2,800 
			 Hart 1,800 
			 Hastings 2,500 
			 Havant 2,800 
			 Horsham 2,700 
			 Isle of Wight 3,800 
			 Lewes 2,200 
			 Maidstone 3,300 
			 Medway 6,200 
			 Mid Sussex 2,800 
			 Milton Keynes 4,700 
			 Mole Valley 1,800 
			 New Forest 4,000 
			 Oxford 2,900 
			 Portsmouth 5,200 
			 Reading 3,200 
			 Reigate and Banstead 2,700 
			 Rother 2,300 
			 Runnymede 1,700 
			 Rushmoor 1,900 
			 Sevenoaks 2,500 
			 Shepway 2,600 
			 Slough 2,300 
			 South Bucks 1,300 
			 South Oxfordshire 2,900 
			 Southampton 5,600 
			 Spelthorne 2,000 
			 Surrey Heath 1,700 
			 Swale 3,100 
			 Tandridge 1,700 
			 Test Valley 2,500 
			 Thanet 3,700 
			 Tonbridge and Mailing 2,400 
			 Tunbridge Wells 2,500 
			 Vale of White Horse 2,500 
			 Waverley 2,600 
			 Wealden 3,300 
			 West Berkshire 3,100 
			 West Oxfordshire 2,100 
			 Winchester 2,400 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,900 
			 Woking 1,900 
			 Wokingham 3,000 
			 Worthing 2,500 
			 Wycombe 3,400 
			  South East Total 186,500 
			   
			 Bath and North East Somerset 4,100 
			 Bournemouth 4,400 
			 Bristol City of 10,200 
			 Caradon 2,200 
			 Carrick 2,500 
			 Cheltenham 2,800 
			 Christchurch 1,100 
			 Cotswold 2,100 
			 East Devon 3,300 
			 East Dorset 1,900 
			 Exeter 2,900 
			 Forest of Dean 2,200 
			 Gloucester 2,900 
			 Isles of Stilly 100 
			 Kennet 1,800 
			 Kerrier 2,700 
			 Mendip 2,700 
			 Mid Devon 1,900 
			 North Cornwall 2,300 
			 North Devon 2,400 
			 North Dorset 1,500 
			 North Somerset 4,700 
			 North Wiltshire 3,000 
			 Penwith 1,900 
			 Plymouth 6,700 
			 Poole 3,300 
			 Purbeck 1,100 
			 Restormel 2,700 
			 Salisbury 2,800 
			 Sedgemoor 2,900 
			 South Gloucestershire 5,700 
			 South Hams 2,100 
			 South Somerset 4,000 
			 Stroud 2,700 
			 Swindon 4,400 
			 Taunton Deane 2,700 
			 Teignbridge 3,200 
			 Tewkesbury 1,900 
			 Torbay 3,700 
			 Torridge 1,700 
			 West Devon 1,400 
			 West Dorset 2,500 
			 West Somerset 1,000 
			 West Wiltshire 3,000 
			 Weymouth and Portland 1,700 
			  South West Total 128,900 
			   
			 Birmingham 26,500 
			 Bridgnorth 1,400 
			 Bromsgrove 2,100 
			 Cannock Chase 2,300 
			 Coventry 7,800 
			 Dudley 7,900 
			 East Staffordshire 2,900 
			 Herefordshire County of 5,000 
			 Lichfield 2,300 
			 Malvern Hills 1,900 
			 Newcastle under Lyme 3,300 
			 North Shropshire 1,600 
			 North Warwickshire 1,600 
			 Nuneaton and Bedworth 3,100 
			 Oswestry 1,100 
			 Redditch 1,900 
			 Rugby 2,200 
			 Sandwell 7,900 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham 2,500 
			 Solihull 4,600 
			 South Shropshire 1,200 
			 South Staffordshire 2,500 
			 Stafford 3,100 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 2,500 
			 Stoke on Trent 7,100 
			 Stratford on Avon 2,800 
			 Tamworth 1,800 
			 Telford and Wrekin 4,100 
			 Walsall 6,700 
			 Warwick 3,000 
			 Wolverhampton 6,600 
			 Worcester 2,400 
			 Wychavon 2,800 
			 Wyre Forest 2,500 
			  West Midlands Total 138,900 
			   
			 Barnsley 6,300 
			 Bradford 12,400 
			 Calderdale 5,400 
			 Craven 1,500 
			 Doncaster 8,000 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 8,500 
			 Hambleton 2,200 
			 Harrogate 3,800 
			 Kingston upon Hull City of 7,300 
			 Kirklees 10,700 
			 Leeds 19,300 
			 North East Lincolnshire 4,600 
			 North Lincolnshire 4,300 
			 Richmondshire 1,200 
			 Rotherham 6,700 
			 Ryedale 1,500 
			 Scarborough 3,100 
			 Selby 1,900 
			 Sheffield 13,900 
			 Wakefield 8,700 
			 York 4,600 
			  Yorks and Humber Total 13,600 
			   
			 Amber Valley 3,300 
			 Ashfield 3,200 
			 Bassetlaw 3,000 
			 Blaby 2,100 
			 Bolsover 2,100 
			 Boston 1,600 
			 Broxtowe 2,900 
			 Charnwood 3,800 
			 Chesterfield 2,800 
			 Corby 1,400 
			 Daventry 1,700 
			 Derby 6,100 
			 Derbyshire Dales 1,900 
			 East Lindsey 3,900 
			 East Northamptonshire 2,000 
			 Erewash 3,000 
			 Gedling 2,900 
			 Harborough 1,800 
			 High Peak 2,300 
			 Hinckley and Bosworth 2,500 
			 Kettering 2,200 
			 Leicester 7,500 
			 Lincoln 2,400 
			 Mansfield 2,800 
			 Melton 1,300 
			 Newark and Sherwood 2,900 
			 North East Derbyshire 2,500 
			 North Kesteven 2,500 
			 North West Leicestershire 2,300 
			 Northampton 5,000 
			 Nottingham 7,800 
			 Oadby and Wigston 1,300 
			 Rushcliffe 2,600 
			 Rutland 900 
			 South Derbyshire 2,100 
			 South Holland 2,200 
			 South Kesteven 3,300 
			 South Northamptonshire 1,900 
			 Wellingborough 1,900 
			 West Lindsey 2,300 
			  East Midlands Total 111,900 
			   
			 Babergh 2,200 
			 Basildon 4,000 
			 Bedford 3,600 
			 Braintree 3,200 
			 Breckland 3,300 
			 Brentwood 1,600 
			 Broadland 3,000 
			 Broxbourne 1,800 
			 Cambridge 2,400 
			 Castle Point 2,000 
			 Chelmsford 3,600 
			 Colchester 3,800 
			 Dacorum 3,000 
			 East Cambridgeshire 1,800 
			 East Hertfordshire 2,800 
			 Epping Forest 2,700 
			 Fenland 2,300 
			 Forest Heath 1,500 
			 Great Yarmouth 2,700 
			 Harlow 1,800 
			 Hertsmere 1,900 
			 Huntingdonshire 3,700 
			 Ipswich 3,300 
			 Kings Lynn and West Norfolk 3,900 
			 Luton 4,400 
			 Maldon 1,400 
			 Mid Bedfordshire 2,800 
			 Mid Suffolk 2,300 
			 North Hertfordshire 2,700 
			 North Norfolk 2,900 
			 Norwich 3,500 
			 Peterborough 4,100 
			 Rochford 1,800 
			 South Bedfordshire 2,500 
			 South Cambridgeshire 2,900 
			 South Norfolk 2,900 
			 Southend on Sea 4,400 
			 St Albans 2,700 
			 St Edmundsbury 2,500 
			 Stevenage 1,900 
			 Suffolk Coastal 3,100 
			 Tendring 3,900 
			 Three Rivers 1,700 
			 Thurrock 3,400 
			 Uttlesford 1,600 
			 Watford 1,600 
			 Waveney 3,300 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 2,100 
			  East England Total 131,9000 
			   
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,900 
			 Barnet 6,700 
			 Bexley 5,000 
			 Brent 5,300 
			 Bromley 6,700 
			 Camden 4,800 
			 City of London 200 
			 Croydon 7,700 
			 Ealing 6,100 
			 Enfield 6,000 
			 Greenwich 5,300 
			 Hackney 4,600 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,800 
			 Haringey 5,200 
			 Harrow 4,000 
			 Havering 5,000 
			 Hillingdon 4,800 
			 Hounslow 4,300 
			 Islington 4,200 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4,100 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,200 
			 Lambeth 6,100 
			 Lewisham 5,900 
			 Merton 4,200 
			 Newham 5,800 
			 Redbridge 5,200 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,100 
			 Southwark 5,400 
			 Sutton 3,900 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,800 
			 Waltham Forest 5,300 
			 Wandsworth 5,900 
			 Westminster 5,600 
			  London Total 162,200 
			   
			 Alnwick 900 
			 Berwick upon Tweed 800 
			 Blyth Valley 2,200 
			 Castle Morpeth 1,200 
			 Chester le Street 1,500 
			 Darlington 2,800 
			 Derwentside 2,500 
			 Durham 2,200 
			 Easington 2,700 
			 Gateshead 5,600 
			 Hartlepool 2,600 
			 Middlesbrough 3,800 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 7,300 
			 North Tyneside 5,400 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 3,800 
			 Sedgefield 2,500 
			 South Tyneside 4,300 
			 Stockton on Tees 4,700 
			 Sunderland 7,700 
			 Teesdale 800 
			 Tynedale 1,600 
			 Wansbeck 1,800 
			 Wear Valley 1,900 
			  North East Total 70,400 
		
	
	Fuel poverty is not measured in terms of number of people who are fuel poor. The Government's long-term objective, as prefigured by s.1 of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 is that, as far as reasonably practicable, by 22 November 2016, persons in England should not live in fuel poverty. The interim objective of the Fuel Poverty Strategy in England is that, so far as reasonably practicable, the Government would seek an end to fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010. The Government set no annual targets in respect of the 2016 and 2010 targets.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK  (a) carbon dioxide and  (b) other greenhouse gas emissions arising from (i) cars, (ii) buses, (iii) all road vehicles, (iv) trains, (v) aviation and (vi) shipping in each of the last 10 years.

Joan Ruddock: The latest 2008 provisional estimates of greenhouse gas emissions were published on 26 March 2009. DEFRA is currently publishing the DECC climate change statistics; the 2008 Final UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions National Statistics may be found at the following web address:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/index.htm
	The proportion of UK  (a) carbon dioxide and  (b) other greenhouse gas emissions arising from (i) cars, (ii) buses, (iii) all road vehicles, (iv) trains, (v) domestic aviation and (vi) domestic shipping in each of the last 10 years, are shown in the following table. These figures have been compiled from the DECC Provisional UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions National Statistics. These percentages are calculated on an 'End User' basis, i.e. the emissions are reallocated from the production and distribution of energy to the users of that energy.
	
		
			  Percentage contribution of specified transport categories towards total emissions of carbon dioxide and all greenhouse gases 1998-2007 by end-user 
			   Percentage 
			  Gas/sector  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  (a)  Carbon dioxide   
			 (i) Cars 16.0 16.6 16.3 16.0 16.9 16.2 16.1 16.1 15.7 15.9 
			 (ii) Buses 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 
			 (iii) All road vehicles 24.4 24.9 24.4 24.0 25.4 24.7 24.6 24.9 24.6 25.2 
			 (iv) Trains 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 
			 (v) Domestic aviation 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 
			 (vi) Domestic shipping 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.0 
			  ( b) Greenhouse gases   
			 (i) Cars 12.9 13.7 13.7 13.6 14.4 13.9 13.9 13.9 13.6 13.8 
			 (ii) Buses 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 
			 (iii) All road vehicles 19.6 20.6 20.4 20.4 21.5 21.2 21.2 21.5 21.3 21.8 
			 (iv) Trains 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 
			 (v) Domestic aviation 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 
			 (vi) Domestic shipping 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.7 1.0 0.9

Housing: Standards

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many buildings in each of the last five years have been constructed to PassivHaus standards.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 20 January 2009
	 There is currently only one building completed to the PassivHaus Standard as certified by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the UK—Canolfan Hyddgen in Machynlleth, Wales. This was designed and constructed by JPW Construction.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1 is; and how much has been spent on Phase 1 to date.

Mike O'Brien: The budget for the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1 is £36 million. Currently the total grant spend is £12,895,587.50. In addition £3.4 million has been spent on administration and certification in relation to the programme.

Peers' Interests

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 409W, on Peers' interests, on what date the proposed meeting was cancelled.

Mike O'Brien: We were informed of the cancellation on 31 January 2009.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress the Government  (a) made during 2008 and  (b) has made to date in 2009 towards meeting the targets in the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Government's UK Sixth Annual Progress Report on Fuel Poverty was published on 2 October 2008. It shows that, in 2006, the latest period for which figures are available, there were around 3.5 million households in fuel poverty across the UK, an increase of one million households since 2005. Around 2.75 million of these were vulnerable households (containing children, the elderly, or a person who is disabled or long-term sick).
	In England, there were around 2.4 million fuel poor households, of which around 1.9 million were vulnerable. This represents a rise of 900,000 households from 2005 to 2006 and a rise of 700,000 vulnerable households over the same period.
	As fuel prices continue to rise faster than incomes, the proportion of households in fuel poverty continued to increase. Projections indicate that for 2008, a further 1.2 million households in England might be in fuel poverty.
	More recent progress will be reported in the Seventh Annual Progress Report on Fuel Poverty to be published later this year.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effect of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 on fuel poverty since July 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: DECC has not commissioned research on the effect of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. However, I announced a review of fuel poverty during evidence to the EFRA Select Committee on 14 January 2009.
	The Review is examining whether existing measures to tackle fuel poverty could be made more effective. It is also considering whether new policies should be introduced to help us make further progress towards our goals, particularly in light of market conditions and our aims to reduce carbon emissions.
	The initial findings of the Fuel Poverty Review are expected in the summer of 2009.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many officials in his Department at each pay band have responsibility for the  (a) formulation and  (b) implementation of policy on the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; what other posts in his Department and its predecessors each such official has held; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: DECC has the following officials by pay band with responsibility for fuel poverty and the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000.
	
		
			   Number 
			 SCS Pay Band 1 2 
			 Grade 6 1 
			 Grade 7 5 
			 SEO 1 
			 HEO 6 
			 EO 3 
			 AO 1 
		
	
	DECC is planning to supplement the team with two additional Grade 7 posts. In addition support is provided when required from other parts of DECC.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Computers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many laptop computers have been provided to  (a) Ministers,  (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in the Government Equalities Office since its creation; and at what cost.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office was established on 12 October 2007. Since then a total of 21 laptops have been purchased for use by civil servants only. The total cost of providing these laptops was £39,032.

Equality: Regulation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation has imposed new burdens on local authorities in relation to equality and diversity since 1997.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Government are committed to ensuring that all new burdens falling on local authorities are fully and properly funded. Any policy which increases the cost of providing local authority services is subject to the new burdens doctrine and, where appropriate, funding is provided through the formula grant system or through specific grants.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding arrangements for rape crisis centres.

Maria Eagle: In March 2008, the Minister for Women and Equality announced a £1.1 million Special Fund to Rape Crisis Centres (members of Rape Crisis England and Wales). This was a targeted response to specific evidence from Rape Crisis England and Wales that their members faced financial difficulties. Following evidence from The Survivors' Trust, the terms of this year's £1.6million Special Fund have been expanded to ensure that members of both Rape Crisis (England and Wales) and The Survivors' Trust can apply.
	The Special Fund and other central Government funds are provided in addition to local funding, for example from local authorities, health bodies and charitable trusts. The Government believe that local decision makers are best placed to assess local needs, and Government expect the majority of funding to the sexual violence voluntary sector to come from local sources.
	Nevertheless, the Government recognise the ongoing problems experienced by the sexual violence sector, particularly in respect of accessing local funding. Officials across Government are working to consider what more we can do, based on the recommendations made by the Home Office's Stakeholder Advisory Group on Sexual Violence and Abuse Funding Sub-group.
	My Department has commissioned a research project to help improve our understanding of the stability and sustainability of the violence against women voluntary sector, which includes Rape Crisis Centres (members of Rape Crisis England and Wales). We are keen to develop a robust evidence base to help Government better support this sector.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Loans

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government has received in interest on loans to developing countries in each year since 2004.

Gareth Thomas: The Government, through the Department for International Development, has received the following amounts of loan interest from developing countries in the financial years 2004-05 to 2007-08:
	
		
			   Low income countries( 1)  Middle income countries( 1)  Total 
			 2004-05 508,180 2,263,040 2,771,220 
			 2005-06 28,821 1,724,631 1,753,452 
			 2006-07 11,401 1,694,981 1,706,382 
			 2007-08 11,102 1,396,409 1,407,511 
			 Total 559,504 7,079,061 7,638,565 
			 (1) 'Developing countries' has been interpreted to mean low income and middle income countries as currently defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee. 
		
	
	The majority of these amounts (92.7 per cent.) refer to middle income countries; the remainder is for low income countries (7.3 per cent.). A substantial proportion of these interest payments refer to a reducing debt portfolio of old investments by CDC.
	These figures do not include interest payments to the Export Credit Guarantee Department on rescheduled defaulted commercial credits that were guaranteed by them.

Developing Countries: Water

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to facilitate international support for the Global Framework for Action for water and sanitation in the next 12 months.

Michael Foster: The Global Framework for Action was announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State on behalf of the UK and the Netherlands, at the partnership event on water and sanitation, during the United Nations High-Level Event on the millennium development goals in September 2008. Since then, a number of steps have been taken to promote the Global Framework for Action.
	DFID is now working closely with UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), the Netherlands and others to refine the operational aspects of the Global Framework for Action. To this end, DFID is hosting a working meeting in May 2009 to address these issues in more detail and to help define a more detailed process for promoting and implementing the Global Framework for Action over the coming 12 months.

Natural Disasters: Monitoring

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will assess the merits of increased use of satellite imagery to monitor the humanitarian conditions of those affected by natural disasters.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) makes full use of UNOSAT, the UN programme which provides the international community with access to satellite imagery for use both in humanitarian relief and disaster prevention, on a day-to-day basis and in particular during humanitarian emergencies. For example, DFID used it to monitor the effects of Hurricane Ike and Cyclone Nargis.

Natural Disasters: Monitoring

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will raise at the United Nations the potential for increased use of satellite imagery better to monitor the humanitarian situation of those affected by natural disasters.

Michael Foster: The UN is already making increased use of satellite imagery to monitor humanitarian situations. The UN has developed the UNOSAT programme which provides the international community with access to satellite imagery for use both in humanitarian relief and disaster prevention.

Overseas Aid

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what priority is accorded to the provision of  (a) water and sanitation and  (b) health and education in his Department's decision-making processes on aid distribution.

Michael Foster: The provision of water and sanitation and health and education are millennium development goals (MDGs). The UK Government are committed to achieving the MDGs and the Department for International Development's (DFID) Third White Paper stated that water and sanitation and health, education and social protection are essential services. The importance of improving these services is reflected in DFID's commitment to spend at least half its bilateral financial support on them.

Sri Lanka: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid he has made available to Sri Lanka for 2009-10; and to which projects such aid  (a) has been and  (b) is to be allocated.

Michael Foster: Since September 2008, the Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated £7.5 million of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka. Of this, £1.96 million remains on hand to respond rapidly to needs on the ground.
	In the 2009-10 financial year DFID has made available: £500,000 to the United Nations Children's Fund for water and sanitation provision and child protection activities; £500,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the emergency airlift of 5,000 tents for internally displaced persons; £550,000 to the United Nations Operations to provide 1,400 emergency shelters together with water and sanitation provision for at least 11,500 IDPs; and £650,000 to the International Organisation for Migration to establish, equip and staff 10 emergency mobile health clinics in IDP camps and provide emergency transport and logistics services.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Fireworks: Noise

Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the reduction of the decibel level of fireworks permitted under regulation 8 of the Fireworks Regulations 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 11 May 2009
	I have had no such discussions recently.

Israel: EU External Trade

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department has taken to ensure that individuals or companies which market or sell within the UK properties in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, the West Bank or the Golan inform potential purchasers of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's recently issued advice on the risks of such purchases; what steps the Government is taking to publicise that advice; and what steps the Government is taking to enforce the legal responsibilities of those who sell or market the properties.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 30 April 2009
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises UK citizens that there are risks involved in purchasing property in Israeli settlements on land considered to be occupied under international law in East Jerusalem, the West Bank or the Golan. Prospective purchasers should be aware that future peace deals could have consequences for properties purchased in these settlements. The advice is available on the FCO website.
	Legislation specifically regulating the conduct of estate agents in the UK is not considered to apply to overseas property transactions. However, estate agents marketing overseas properties do have legal obligations to prospective purchasers under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The Regulations oblige businesses not to mislead consumers through acts or omissions in their commercial practices. Failure to inform prospective purchasers of the risks involved in purchasing properties in the settlements could potentially amount to a misleading omission under the Regulations where this was likely to cause the average consumer to make a different choice. The Regulations are primarily enforced by local trading standards departments.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Furniture

Grant Shapps: To ask the Leader of the House how much her Office spent on furniture in each of the last five years.

Chris Bryant: Because the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons joined the Cabinet Office in June 2007 separate figures are not available for expenditure on furniture in the Leader of the House's Office.
	Information prior to 2007 is available only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which departments participate in the inter-departmental group on the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research established by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The Group is led by Home Office officials and has members from the Department of Health, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the Food Standards Agency, the Health and Safety Executive, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, the Health Protection Agency, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Pesticides Safety Directorate.

Animal Experiments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms the inter-departmental group on the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research (3Rs) uses to ensure that other UK regulatory bodies take account of progress made in relation to the 3Rs.

Shahid Malik: The Inter Departmental Group on the 3Rs (IDG3Rs) was originally established by the Home Office to improve the application of the 3Rs and promote research into alternatives, reduce the need for toxicity testing through better sharing of data, and encourage the validation and acceptance of alternatives.
	The group is one of the key mechanisms by which government policy and practice with respect to the scientific validation of alternative methods is co-ordinated by officials. The group also provides a means for Government Departments and Agencies to work with the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).
	As part of its work, the group ensures that the United Kingdom representative to the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC) is briefed in advance of meetings and that developments at ESAC and ECVAM are given due weight by Government Departments and regulatory agencies. Information on the validation of alternative methods within Europe is provided through the United Kingdom representative to ESAC. Relevant papers are distributed to members of the group as soon as they become available.

Animal Experiments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of Government funding for the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research was provided by her Department in the last 12 months.

Shahid Malik: In 2007-08, the latest year for which accounts are available, the Home Office provided £250,000 towards the funding of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3RS). This represented 9.5 per cent. of total Government funding for the centre. The Home Office has also provided £250,000 funding in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Asylum

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been waiting 12 months or more for a decision on their case; and how many of these  (a) have sought permission to work and  (b) have been granted permission to work under the provisions of the 2003 EU Reception Directive.

Phil Woolas: The requested information is not collated and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through examination of individual case records.
	The United Kingdom Border Agency's asylum targets are based on case conclusion times and the agency is committed to fully concluding 90 per cent. of new asylum applications within six months by the end of 2011.

Asylum: Females

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female asylum seekers were interviewed with their children present during the first or subsequent substantive interview in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency does not record statistics in relation to the attendance of mothers with their children during the substantive interview on any of our internal databases. The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case files.

Departmental Buildings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on building maintenance in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Scott) on 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 282W.

Departmental Furniture

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department's agencies spent on furniture in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The Department's expenditure on furniture and fittings can be found in Note 14 (Tangible Fixed Assets) to the Home Office Resource Accounts which are published annually. The latest published figures are for the year 2007-08 which can be found at the Department's website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/resource-accounts-07-08
	The Stationery Office publication references for the Resource Accounts for previous years are:
	Home Office Resource Accounts 2006/07 (HC 1006);
	Home Office Resource Accounts 2005/06 (HC 124);
	Home Office Resource Accounts 2004/05 (HC 826).
	The Home Office 2008-09 Resource Accounts will be available in July.
	The expenditure incurred by Criminal Records Bureau and Identity and Passport Service can be found in their published annual reports and accounts which can be obtained from the Stationery Office.

Departmental Stationery

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on branded stationery and gifts for  (a) internal and  (b) external promotional use in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The requested information is not held centrally in the Home Office and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Detainees: Children

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children of asylum seekers  (a) had and  (b) had not begun to receive a standard programme of child immunisation before entering immigration removal centres in the last 12 months; and how many of those who had not begun to receive immunisations have subsequently started a programme of immunisations at an immigration removal centre.

Phil Woolas: Health care at all three immigration removal centres where children can be detained includes an undertaking to continue with childhood vaccination programmes already commenced in the UK until they leave the centre. The specific information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost by examining each individual record.

Entry Clearances

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reports her Department has received on allegations that persons have been obliged to sign applications for leave to remain under duress by their spouses; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost, all relevant information, including an allegation of duress if made would be considered prior to any decision being taken on an application.

Food

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make an estimate of the  (a) monetary value and  (b) quantity of waste food disposed of from her Department's premises in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: This specific information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Nevertheless my Department records its total waste arisings as required for the annual Sustainable Development in Government Report, and is working to reduce total waste from its premises.

Fuels: Transport

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign-registered heavy goods vehicles carrying  (a) gas,  (b) oil,  (c) liquified petroleum gas and  (d) petroleum have entered the UK in each of the last 12 months; and what checks the UK Border Agency carries out on the drivers of these vehicles.

Jacqui Smith: The Department for Transport are responsible for monitoring the movement of goods across the UK border. This information is not centrally available.
	UKBA conducts freight searching operations at each of the Juxtaposed locations in Northern France, as well as ports of entry around the country. Drivers and their passengers are required to present documentation in the form of either a passport, or an ID card to an immigration officer to verify their identity and this applies to everyone seeking entry to the UK without exception.
	Once the immigration officer is satisfied with the passenger they are allowed to proceed to the freight search area where their vehicle may be subject to further checks relating to their load as well as a physical search of the vehicle by trained search teams.

Gateway Group

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the Gateway Group established to oversee all requests from her Department and its agencies for the collection of data outside its annual data requirement processes to begin its work.

Jacqui Smith: The Gateway Group met for the first time on 28 April. It is chaired by the Home Office's permanent secretary and includes representatives from ACPO, APA, HMIC and NPIA and the independent reducing bureaucracy advocate Jan Berry.
	The Gateway Group will meet quarterly.

Identity Cards: Finance

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the sums to be allocated to the introduction of identity cards in each of the next six financial years.

Shahid Malik: The latest projected estimates for the cost of issuing identity cards are published in the sixth National Identity Service cost report presented to Parliament on 6 May 2009. A copy of the report may also be found at:
	http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/downloads/docA_IPS_cost_ reportpercent202009_v11_BM.pdf
	I would refer the hon. Member to that report.

Immigration

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision will be made in the case with Home Office reference G1082747; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I wrote to the hon. Member on 27 April with the latest position on the case of G1082747 and this remains the position.

Immigration Controls

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent proposals on improving existing collaborative arrangements between  (a) forces at the UK border and  (b) police forces and the UK Border Agency have been (i) made and (ii) agreed to; and what timetable has been established for implementation of the proposals agreed to.

Jacqui Smith: The creation of the UK Border Agency allows us to establish a single and strong border force bringing together immigration and customs controls at our ports.
	The role of the police and of other agencies in contributing to border security continues to be a high priority for us.
	This year we will build on the high level Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Border Agency and the police published in 2008, in order to improve, strengthen and better coordinate border security arrangements. This will include increased opportunities for joint working including joint threat assessments and operations as well as secondments of UK Border Agency and police staff.
	The National Coordinator (Protect), on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), is closely involved in the planning for the border and setting consistent practices across port-based staff in forces across England and Wales.

Immigration Controls

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1187W, on immigration controls, when she expects the information on the resources required by the UK Border Agency to be finalised.

Phil Woolas: The resource required to deliver the points based system which has five tiers, four of which are currently in operation includes both internal and commercial costs. It is not possible to disaggregate the resources required to operate individual tiers. The commercial costs of implementing PBS costs as a whole will not be known until spring 2010.

International Police Assistance Board

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what timetable has been set for the establishment of the International Police Assistance Board; and what goals she plans to set for the board.

Jacqui Smith: The International Police Assistance Board was established in July 2008. It is a senior cross-departmental and senior police service advisory body, chaired by the Association of Chief Police Officers. Its aims are to better co-ordinate delivery of HMG cross-departmental initiatives and police service professional interest overseas and to develop a strategic overview of UK aims in international police assistance.

Metropolitan Police: Information and Communications Technology

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the IT resources provided to Metropolitan Police officers in policing fraud.

Jacqui Smith: The Government allocate funding to police authorities as a whole. The allocation of resources is a matter for the Metropolitan Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Authority, who are responsible for assessing local needs.
	The Government have also specifically allocated £3.5 million to the Police Central e-crime Unit (PCeU) over three years from 2008-09, with the Metropolitan Police Service contributing £3.9 million over the same three year period. One of the main areas of work for the PCeU will be to support the National Fraud Reporting Centre in tackling electronic fraud.

Police: Disclosure of Information

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports she has received of allegations of information about environmental campaign organisations being passed by the police to energy companies.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office has received no such reports.

Police: Disclosure of Information

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any members of the police have met  (a) representatives of EDF Energy,  (b) representatives of other energy companies,  (c) Thierry Lorho and  (d) representatives of Kargus to discuss (i) Greenpeace and (ii) other environmental campaign organisations.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office do not hold this information. Meetings held by the police with organisations are operational matters for the police force concerned. The police may provide protective security advice to any organisation where necessary.

Police: Procurement

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to ensure that police force procurement processes are coordinated nationally; and what timetable has been set for achieving such coordination.

Jacqui Smith: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), with support from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), has recently completed a detailed analysis of the police service's spending on goods and services across all 43 forces in England and Wales and the British Transport Police. This is the first review of its kind in the public sector.
	As a result of the review, ACPO and the NPIA are taking forward two areas of improvement:
	Working with suppliers to increase standardisation of policy, processes and cost drivers (such as the removal of onerous terms and conditions).
	Identifying areas of spend that are interchangeable with other providers/suppliers that show the greatest potential benefit from further collaboration and standardisation.
	The NPIA and ACPO are finalising the plan for implementation of these improvement areas to capture the most significant efficiency improvements at both a national and regional level.

Vetting: Scotland

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of how many people each police force in England and Wales has provided information to assist with basic disclosure checks being undertaken by Disclosure Scotland.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not held centrally.

Vetting: Voluntary Work

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of the Independent Safeguarding Authority on trends in the levels of volunteering in sport; and if she will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: There is no reason to believe that the work of the ISA will have an adverse impact on volunteering. A single form will be available for applications to the new Vetting and Barring Scheme and for Criminal Records Bureau disclosures, and a single fee charged where applications are made at the same time. Applications will be free of charge to unpaid volunteers.
	The regulatory impact assessment for the Scheme indicated that there would be some additional cost to volunteer organisers arising from the processing of applications by CRB-registered or umbrella bodies, some of whom charge a fee, but this is mitigated by the availability of a free on-line check to employers and users of volunteers once an individual is registered with the scheme.
	Government recognise the vital role volunteers have in delivering sports activities. The Home Office, Department for Children, Schools and Families and Department of Health have been working with stakeholders, including sports and voluntary sector bodies and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that their interests and concerns are reflected within the new scheme.
	Part of this work will include issuing sector specific guidance.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprentices

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many persons who completed apprenticeships were unemployed one year after the end of the apprenticeship in each of the last three years.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 8 May 2009
	An apprenticeship is a work-based programme and apprentices must have a job or a work placement as a condition of completing their apprenticeship framework. Many will already be in permanent employment prior to the end of their apprenticeship.
	Information on the immediate destinations of apprenticeships upon completion of their apprenticeship is not readily available. This type of information will in future be collected using the framework for excellence learner destination survey with the first results for all FE colleges and work based learning providers available in spring 2009. The survey will be conducted nine months after the end of the academic year and so will not relate exactly to 12 months after the completion of the apprenticeship.
	The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

Apprentices

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprenticeships were terminated by an employer on economic grounds in each of the last 12 months.

Si�n Simon: holding answer 8 May 2009
	We do not currently hold data centrally about the total number of apprentices made redundant. Working with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) we have established a matching service to help apprentices at risk of redundancy to find alternative employment and to complete their apprenticeship. More generally, providers and the LSC have procedures to advise and relocate apprentices, in cases where providers or employers fail, to help ensure that they are able to continue in work and complete their apprenticeship. The 140 million package announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister for an additional 35,000 apprenticeship places will help fund new provision in both the public sector and private sector, and will extend the opportunities available to people facing redundancy.
	The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeshipup from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.

Departmental Buildings

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what facilities there are in his Department's buildings for staff to stay overnight.

Si�n Simon: The Department's building services are provided through the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), which manage the buildings that DIUS occupies.
	The National Measurement Office (NMO) occupies space in Teddington that is owned by DIUS but managed by the NMO.
	Beyond being open for normal use in some cases, there are no overnight facilities in any of these buildings.

Departmental Furniture

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much each of his Department's agencies spent on furniture in each of the last five years.

Si�n Simon: The National Measurement Office (NMO) and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) have spent on furniture over the last five years as follows.
	
		
			  March to April financial years  National Measurement Office (NMO) ()  Intellectual Property Office (IPO) () 
			 2004-05 0 51,143 
			 2005-06 0 52,961 
			 2006-07 1,044 239,748 
			 2007-08 1,801 200,800 
			 2008-09 17,084 220,235 
			 Total 19,929 764,887

Departmental Manpower

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many of his Department's staff work overseas; and in which countries such staff are located.

Si�n Simon: Two members of DIUS staff are on loan to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office working as part of the Science and Innovation Network and based in posts overseas.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) BlackBerry devices and  (b) mobile telephones have been lost by (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since its creation.

Si�n Simon: According to our records, there have been no recorded instances of mobile phones (which were provided by the Department) being lost.
	Our records show a total of six BlackBerry devices have been lost and not recovered. Two were lost in 2007 and four in 2008. There have been no reports of any BlackBerry devices being lost in 2009. All these devices were lost by civil servants. There were no losses by either Ministers or special advisers.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department spent on the purchase of  (a) recycled office supplies in the last 12 months and  (b) printer ink cartridges in each year since its creation.

Si�n Simon: The Department has spent as follows:
	 (a) Office paper and envelopes are the main recycled office supplies in the Department. Approximately 7,200 per year is spent on these items in London. A significant amount of paper is also used at the DIUS office in Sheffield, but the cost is not separately identifiable because office paper was provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as building manager until recently.
	 (b) Printer ink cartridges:
	2007/08: 39,586
	2008/09: 106,915.

Learning and Skills Council

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what offices are  (a) owned and  (b) leased by (i) the Learning and Skills Council, (ii) his Department and (iii) the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is provided in the following lists.
	 The Learning and Skills Council
	Woburn Court, 2 Railton Road, Woburn Road Industrial Estate, Kempston, MK42 7PN
	Pacific House, Imperial Way, Reading, RG2 OTF
	NTI Building, 15 Bartholomew Row, Birmingham, B5 5JU
	Units 6 and 7 Castle Court, 2 Castlegate Business Park, Dudley, DY1 4RD
	Provincial House, 25 Oxford Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8EY
	Stuart House, St. Johns Street, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 5DD
	Dalton House, Dalton Way, Middlewich, CW10 OHU
	Allergate House, Belmont Business Park, Belmont, Durham, DH1 1TW
	Oak Tree Court, Binley Business Park, Harry Weston Road, Coventry, CV3 2UN
	Venture/Progress House, Regents Court, Guard Street, Workington, CA14 4EW
	1 Mallard Way, Pullman Business Park, Derby, DE24 8GX
	Foliot House, Budshead Road, Plymouth, PL6 5XR
	Penhaligon House, Princes Street, Truro, TR1 1DZ
	Richmond Court, Emperor Way, Exeter Business Park, Exeter, EX1 3QS
	Redwing House, Hedgerows Business Park, Colchester Road, Chelmsford, CM2 5PB
	Conway House, 33-35 Worcester Street, Gloucester, GL1 3AJ
	Eagle Point, Segensworth, Fareham, PO15 5TD
	5 Brook Court, Whittington Hall, Whittington Road, Worcester, WR5 2ZX
	Grosvenor Road, 45 Grosvenor Road, St. Albans, AL1 3AW
	4 Earls Court, Henry Boot Way, Hull, HU4 7DY
	26 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4AE
	Citigate, Longridge Road, Preston, PR2 5BQ
	17a Meridian East, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, LE19 1UU
	Alpha Court, Unit 1B, Alpha Court Business Park, Kingsley Road, Lincoln, LN6 3TA
	Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1DR
	Boardman House, 64 The Broadway, Stratford, London, E15 1NT
	Dumayne House, 1 Fox Lane, Palmers Green, London, N13 4AB
	Canius House, 1 Scarbrook Road, Croydon, CRO 1SQ
	Central House, 3 Lampton Road, Hounslow, TW3 1HY
	Arndale House, Arndale Centre, Manchester, M4 3AQ
	The Plaza, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9QJ
	Latimer House, Langford Business Park, Langford Locks, Kidlington, 0X5 1GG
	Cheylesmore House North, Quinton Road, Cheylesmore, Coventry, CV1 2WT
	Cheylesmore House South, Quinton Road, Cheylesmore, Coventry, CV1 2WT
	Security House, Mile Lane, Cheylesmore, Coventry, CV21 2NL
	Lakeside 500, Old Chapel Way, Broadland Business Park, Norwich, NR7 OWG
	Royal Pavilion, Summerhouse Road, Moulton Park Industrial Estate, Northampton, NN3 6BJ
	7 Pioneer Business Park, Amy Johnson Way, Clifton Moorgate, York, YO30 4TN
	C/O MLS Business Centre, City Gate East, Toll House Hill, Nottingham,NG1 5FY
	Hollinswood House, Suite G1, Stafford Court, Telford, TF3 3DD
	Kingston House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, TA1 2PX
	The Straddle, Victoria Quays, Wharf Street, Sheffield, S2 5SY
	Festival Way, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5TQ
	Felaw Maltings, 42 Felaw Street, Ipswich, IP2 8SJ
	Technology House, 48-54 Goldsworth Road, Woking, GU21 6LE
	Princes House, 53 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XB
	Wynyard House, Wynyard Park, Billingham,TS22 5TB
	Moongate House, 5th Avenue Business Park, Team Valley, Gateshead, NE11 OHF
	St. Lawrence House, 29-31 Broad Street, Bristol, BS1 2HF
	Mercury House, 4 Manchester Road, Bradford, BD5 OQL
	The Bora Building, Westlea Campus, Westlea Down, Swindon, SN5 7EZ
	All of the LSC's properties are leased.
	 DIUS
	DIUS occupies office space at the following buildings:
	Kingsgate House, 66-74 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6SW
	Moorfoot, Sheffield, S1 4PQ
	Castle View House, East Lane, Runcorn, WA7 2GJ
	Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington, DL3 9BG
	Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN2 1SZ
	These buildings are neither owned nor leased by DIUS. They are shared under agreements with BERR (for Kingsgate House), DCSF (for Moorfoot, Castle View House and Mowden Hall) and the Research Councils (for Polaris House).
	 Higher Education Funding Council for England
	Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QD
	12th Floor, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DD
	Both of the above properties are leased.

Train to Gain Programme

Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people in each constituency participated in training under the Train to Gain programme since the programme's inception.

Si�n Simon: I have placed a copy of a table, showing Train to Gain starts in each parliamentary constituency since the inception of Train to Gain, in the House Libraries.

TREASURY

Banks: Finance

Sally Keeble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what 
	(1)  recent discussions he has had with representatives of UK Financial Investments Ltd. on the policy of  (a) RBS and  (b) HBOS on maintaining credit lines to existing commercial customers;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with representatives of UK Financial Investments Ltd. on the approach of  (a) RBS and  (b) HBOS in maintaining their existing loan portfolios.

Ian Pearson: The Government have regular discussions with UK Financial Investments Ltd. (UKFI). The framework agreement sets out the relationship between HM Treasury and UKFI, and is available at:
	http://www.ukfi.gov.uk/

Banks: Finance

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 100W, on banks, if he will take steps to require information relating to pension arrangements of directors in banks supported through UK Financial Investments to be published more often than in annual reports and accounts.

Ian Pearson: h olding  answer 23 March 2009
	Government policy in relation to the disclosure of commercial information by state-controlled companies that are PLCs is that their approach to disclosure should follow the requirements for companies listed on the Stock Exchange, including the Combined Code on Corporate Governance and Directors' Remuneration Report Regulations. Government are following this same approach in relation to the disclosure of commercial information by banks commercially managed by UK Financial Investments (UKFI).
	The Directors' Remuneration Report Regulations 2002 require all quoted companies to prepare an annual directors' remuneration report. The remuneration report must contain certain information in respect of each person who has served as a director of the company at any time during the relevant financial year. The details are available at:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2002/20021986.htm

Banks: Ireland

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will insure monies invested by British nationals in  (a) the Bank of Ireland and  (b) Anglo-Irish Bank.

Ian Pearson: Deposits with Bank of Ireland and Anglo Irish Bank are subject to the Irish Deposit Guarantee scheme.

Banks: Ireland

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether arrangements for the protection of deposits made in UK banks apply to UK holders of deposits in banks in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The EC Deposit-guarantee Schemes Directive (94/19/EC) sets the minimum terms on which depositors are protected throughout the European Union and European economic area. Some member states have introduced higher limits.
	Arrangements for depositors in Irish banks are a matter for the Irish Government.
	Deposits in Irish banks are covered up to a level of 100,000 by the Irish deposit guarantee scheme, under the terms of the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive. In addition to the protection of the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme, the Irish Government announced on 30 September 2008 that it would guarantee certain deposits with Irish banks, including all retail deposits, until 29 September 2010.

Banks: Ireland

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has had discussions with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Ireland on arrangements to protect deposits made by UK citizens with banks in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations and international partners. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Departmental Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedure his Department follows for dealing with complaints received  (a) by e-mail,  (b) by post,  (c) by telephone and  (d) via his Department's website.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury's complaints procedure is set out on the HMT website under:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about_complaints.htm

Departmental Stationery

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on branded stationery and gifts for  (a) internal and  (b) external promotional use in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 828W, to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban).

Fiscal Policy

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government plan to bring forward proposals for a second package of fiscal stimulus measures for the UK economy.

Ian Pearson: The Government have taken decisive action in response to the global economic crisis. The Budget in April announced targeted fiscal support for those most affected by the downturn and to ensure a sustained and sustainable recovery. These measures build on the fiscal stimulus announced in the PBR, along with the support provided by allowing the UK's relatively powerful automatic fiscal stabilisers to operate in full.

Furnished Holiday Lettings Scheme

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and  (b) representatives of the tourism industry before reaching decisions on the changes to the Furnished Holiday Lettings scheme announced in Budget 2009.

Ian Pearson: The changes to the Furnished Holiday Lettings rules were made following advice that the different treatments of furnished holiday accommodation in the UK and in the rest of the EEA may not be compliant with European Law. The decision to repeal the rules was taken in order to remove the unfair advantage that landlords of furnished holiday accommodation have over other landlords.

Industrial Health and Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: This information is not available in the format requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Interpal

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what requests he has made to the US administration for details of the evidence on the basis of which the US authorities designated Interpal as a global terrorist organisation in 2003.

Ian Pearson: The US Department of Treasury issued a press notice on 22 August 2003, explaining the reasons why the US authorities designated Interpal.
	HM Treasury officials are in ongoing discussions with their US counterparts about how best we can work together to facilitate legitimate charitable work, while protecting against the abuse of charities by those involved in terrorist finance. As part of this dialogue, the Treasury has asked the US authorities to consider if any further information can be made available about the basis for Interpal's designation.

Landfill Tax

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue accrued to the Exchequer from landfill tax in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Total tax receipts for 2006-07 to 2008-09 are published by HM Revenue and Customs at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/table1-3a.pdf

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare's letters of 2 December 2008 and 27 February 2009 sent on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Adrian Pritchard.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Natural Gas: Finance

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the cost of cushion gas used in gas storage infrastructure is considered to be capital expenditure for taxation purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding  answer 26 March 2009
	Cushion gas may be described as the volume of gas intended for long-term use in a gas storage facility, necessary to maintain pressure and to enable redelivery of the stored gas. As such, it is not acquired with a view to being re-sold as an incident of the storage trade, but with a view to being retained long-term as a fixed asset of the business. In those circumstances, the cost of acquiring it is normally capital expenditure for taxation purposes. However, the answer can depend on the particular facts of the case so if, for example, there is systematic evidence of the buying and selling of recoverable cushion gas (perhaps allied to an accounting treatment of the gas as trading stock) this may point to the expenditure being revenue expenditure for tax purposes.

State Retirement Pensions

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to freeze the rate at which pension years can be bought back at the rate applicable before 6 April 2009 in respect of persons who have attempted to buy back one or more years and have not had their application processed by the deadline.

Ian Pearson: HM Revenue and Customs have agreed that if a customer has requested a pension forecast before 6 April 2009 but receives the forecast after that date, it will accept payment of class 3 contributions at the pre 6 April 2009 rates, provided the payment is made within one calendar month of the customer receiving the forecast.

Tax Evasion

Evan Harris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue lost to the Exchequer as a result of tax evasion in 2008-09.

Stephen Timms: There are no estimates of the revenue lost specifically to tax evasion. HMRC published the latest available estimates of tax losses in the Autumn Performance Report 2008:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/autumn-report-2008.pdf
	The estimates given in this report include evasion with other causes of losses.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental ICT

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions arising from the operation of ICT systems in his Department under the Greening Government ICT Strategy.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department does not own the equipment used to provide its ICT systems. The equipment is provided as part of a managed service by the Department's IT suppliers.
	The Department has made great inroads in reducing its carbon footprint through active management of its IT services, since the end of 2005 when it re-aligned its contracts with BT and EDS. This work is continuing.
	In the summer of 2008 the Department announced its strategy to re-compete its existing contracts over a five year period. A key element of this future contracting strategy is to contractually commit the IT providers to reduce the carbon footprint of the services they deliver to the Department.
	The Department, along with others represented on the Chief Information Officers Council (CIO), have produced a CIO Green ICT Roadmap to deliver against the 18 target improvement areas outlined in the Greening Government ICT Strategy. A full report of the CIO Council Green ICT Roadmaps will be made available later in June featuring the action plans of all Departments involved in the council against the 18 steps.

Incapacity Benefit

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the 10 most common medical conditions in respect of which incapacity benefit claimants received the benefit were in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The classification identifies some conditions separately while others are grouped together in 'other' or 'miscellaneous' categories. Some of these grouped categories are among those with the highest caseload numbers. The level of detail of the supporting documentation may determine whether a case is allocated to a more specific category, or has to be put in a grouped category. Because of these grouped categories, we cannot be certain what the 10 most common medical conditions among incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants are, only the most common conditions are separately identified.

Incapacity Benefit: Heart Diseases

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants had a recorded diagnosis which was or included a heart condition in each of the last five years; and how much was paid in such benefits to such claimants in each of these years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Having a heart condition does not of itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefits. Until October 2008 the medical assessment of incapacity for work was the personal capability assessment. This assesses the effects of a person's condition on their ability to carry out a number of everyday activities relevant to work.
	The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimated incapacity benefits expenditure on claimants whose diagnosis includes heart condition (nominal terms) 
			million 
			 2003-04 363 
			 2004-05 338 
			 2005-06 317 
			 2006-07 296 
			 2007-08 279 
			  Notes: 1. Incapacity benefits includes incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance payable to working-aged adults. 2. Figures include incapacity related income support expenditure for incapacity benefit claimants. 3. Expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest  million. Estimates are based on information from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study land published DWP benefit expenditure tables. 4. DWP benefit expenditure tables can be accessed at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated incapacity benefits case loads of claimants whose diagnosis includes heart condition (nominal terms) 
			   All 
			 August 2004 76,130 
			 August 2005 70,130 
			 August 2006 64,730 
			 August 2007 59,120 
			 August 2008 53,550 
			  Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, published by the World Health Organisation. 3. To qualify for incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, claimants have to undertake a medical assessment of incapacity for work called the personal capability assessment. Therefore, the medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to benefit.  Source: DWP Longitudinal Study

Jobcentre Plus: Standards

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department has issued to Jobcentre Plus on the priorities for processing different benefit claims within target timeframes.

Tony McNulty: No guidance has been issued to Jobcentre Plus as there are no set priorities between different benefits. In 2008-09 Jobcentre Plus exceeded all of its targets for clearing claims for incapacity benefit, income support and jobseeker's allowance, despite a large increase in the numbers of people claiming jobseeker's allowance, implementing the new employment and support allowance, and maintaining historically low levels of fraud and error.

Jobcentre Plus: Vacancies

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the ratio of jobseekers to vacancies in each  (a) region,  (b) local authority area,  (c) Jobcentre Plus area and  (d) parliamentary constituency.

Tony McNulty: The information has been placed in the Library, and provides separate data for unfilled and notified vacancies to give the fullest picture of the number of Jobcentre Plus vacancies. The labour market is dynamic and many new vacancies are filled so quickly they do not appear in the statistics for live unfilled vacancies, which are based on a snapshot of the vacancies available on a particular day.
	The coverage of these figures relates only to Jobcentre Plus notified and unfilled vacancies. Many vacancies come up through other recruitment channels and the proportion accounted for by Jobcentre Plus is likely to vary over time, according to the occupation of the vacancy and industry of the employer, and by local area. Estimates of the number of unfilled job vacancies across the economy as a whole are available from the monthly ONS Vacancy Survey, based on a sample of some 6,000 enterprises. However, the ONS survey is currently designed to provide national estimates only.
	It should be noted that a simple comparison of Jobcentre Plus advertised vacancies to local areas is not the best measure of the work opportunities available to jobseekers. People will tend to look for work in a wider geographical area than a parliamentary constituency.

New Deal Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contingency plans his Department has put in place to be invoked should delivery of flexible New Deal phase 1 not take place on the expected timetable.

Tony McNulty: The Government remain committed to bringing in the Flexible New Deal (FND) phase 1 from October 2009. None of the bids received from shortlisted suppliers in the FND competition have indicated they could not start up by the expected date.
	If a provider were to be unable to start delivery in October 2009, suitable contingency arrangements would be agreed for each Jobcentre Plus District involved. Customers would continue to receive support from Jobcentre Plus and have access to the additional support at six months, until the provider was ready to accept referrals.

Pathways to Work

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average cost  (a) per start and  (b) per job of the Pathways to Work programme after its national roll-out;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost per head of the Pathways to Work programme after its national roll-out.

Tony McNulty: Figures are not yet available for the average costs of Pathways to Work since national rollout in April 2008. An independent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (Department for Work and Pensions Research Report 498) looked at the costs and benefits of Pathways in Jobcentre Plus pilot areas:
	they estimated the cost per Pathways participant (i.e. start) was 402; and
	the Institute for Fiscal Studies study did not estimate costs per job entry, but did make an estimate of the total costs and benefits, from job entries. They concluded that for every 1 spent on Pathways, the Government gains 1.51 back in terms of saved benefit bills and increased tax income. This is based on a conservative assumption that Pathways impact on employment and off-flows lasts for only 70 weeks.
	Statistics for Provider-led districts will be published in summer 2009.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to change the upper capital limit for pension credit for those who qualify for only the savings credit element; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 30 April 2009
	There is no upper capital limit in pension credit. Those customers in receipt of the guarantee element of pension credit have linked entitlement to full eligible housing benefit and council tax benefit. However customers who are only in receipt of the savings credit element of pension credit are still subject to the upper capital limit of 16,000 in housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	In the 2009 Budget the Chancellor announced that the capital threshold for pension credit (and housing benefit and council tax benefit for those who have attained the qualifying age for pension credit) will be increased from 6,000 to 10,000, bringing it into line with the threshold for those living permanently in care homes. This will allow these customers to retain up to 10,000 of capital before it affects their benefit.
	The change will take effect from November 2009 and will apply to all pension credit customers, that is, to people in receipt of guarantee credit only, savings credit only or both guarantee and savings credit, as well as all pension age housing benefit and council tax benefit customers.
	The Government recognise the importance of supporting pensioners appropriately through the economic downturn. Increasing the capital threshold from 6,000 to 10,000 represents a generous increase in the thresholds and means that the proportion of pension credit recipients who will see their capital fully disregarded rises to 88 per cent. Half a million pensioners stand to gain from this change, with an average weekly gain across all benefits of 4.

Social Security Benefits

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of claims for  (a) jobseeker's allowance,  (b) income support,  (c) employment and support allowance,  (d) pension credit and  (e) carer's allowance delayed as a result of the misplacing of paperwork by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanism there is for liaison between staff in Jobcentre Plus offices and local general practitioners on provisions in the Welfare Reform Bill relating to drug users.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 30 April 2009
	Under the provisions, problem drug users will be required to agree a rehabilitation plan with a specialist contracted programme provider. Any need to liaise with medical practitioners as a result of this will only be done with the consent of the individual concerned.

Television: Licensing

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Hendon constituency received free television licences in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Andy Burnham: I have been asked to reply.
	TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, can provide breakdown only by postcode. However, according to the records of the Department for Work and Pensions the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Hendon constituency in 2007-08 was 5,830. Figures for 2008-09 are still being compiled.

Vocational Training

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department provides on  (a) training courses and  (b) funding for such courses to (i) Jobcentre Plus and (ii) careers advisers.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what information his Department provides on training courses and funding both to Jobcentre Plus advisers and careers advisers. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus Personal Advisers have access to a range of information on the training provision available locally and the eligibility conditions that apply. There are local partnerships agreements in place between each Jobcentre Plus District and the careers advisory services for young people to facilitate discussions on how best to support young people into appropriate employment, education and training.
	Jobcentre Plus is working with the Learning and Skills Councils in England and trialling an integrated employment and skills system which improves the availability of information on learning opportunities to its advisers and those in other organisations. Early policy development discussions are being held with the devolved administrations with a view to trialling similar arrangements.

Welfare Tax Credits: Grandparents

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of introducing a national insurance credit for grandparents of working age who provide 20 hours or more childcare per week.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 27 January 2009
	Reforms to make the state pension fairer and more widely available will be implemented in April 2010 including a reduction to 30 qualifying years required for entitlement to the full basic state pension and reforms to the system for crediting those with caring responsibilities to reflect the different ways in which people contribute to society. As a result of these changes around 75 per cent. of women reaching state pension age from April 2010 will be entitled to a full basic state pension compared to 50 per cent. without reform. By 2025 over 90 per cent. of both men and women reaching state pension age will be entitled to a full basic state pension.
	Building on these reforms, the Government announced in the Budget 2009 that working age grandparents and other adult family members, who care for their grandchildren or other members of their family aged 12 or younger for 20 hours or more a week, will be able to gain national insurance credits toward the basic state pension from April 2011 at an estimated total cost of 35 million to 2050 (Net Present Value, 2009-10 price terms).
	 Notes:
	1. The estimate is consistent with Treasury Economic assumptions from the Budget Report 2009, are in 2009-10 prices, have been rounded to the nearest 5 million.
	2. Estimates of the cost of particular elements of coverage reform, such as the grandparent's credit, depend on the order in which they are modelled. Following the approach used in the Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the Pensions Bill, costs presented in this answer refer to the estimated expenditure on a grandparent's credit on top of the reforms to coverage set out in the Pensions Acts 2007 and 2008.
	3. Figures quoted relate only to benefit expenditure and do not take account of administration costs.
	 Source:
	DWP estimates based on evidence from the Family Resources Survey, demographic projections, and administrative data.

Winter Fuel Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in each  (a) constituency and  (b) weather station area who would be eligible for cold weather payments should temperatures fall below the trigger point.

Kitty Ussher: Estimates of the number of benefit units eligible for cold weather payments are not available by parliamentary constituency or local authority, but only by weather station. The available information is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Estimated number of benefit units eligible for cold weather payments by weather station in Great Britain in 2008-09 
			  Weather station  Admin area  Estimated number of eligible benefit units 
			 Aberporth Ceredigion 4,700 
			 Albemarle Northumberland 146,100 
			 Andrewsfield Essex 68,200 
			 Aultbea Highland 500 
			 Aviemore Highland 800 
			 Bedford Bedfordshire 84,100 
			 Bingley West Yorkshire 160,900 
			 Bishopton Renfrewshire 205,300 
			 Boscombe Down Wiltshire 13,000 
			 Boulmer Northumberland 14,600 
			 Braemar Aberdeenshire 1,600 
			 Brize Norton Oxfordshire 25,900 
			 Cardinham (Bodmin) Cornwall 13,400 
			 Carlisle Cumbria 14,900 
			 Cassley Highland 400 
			 Charlwood West Sussex 43,000 
			 Charterhall Scottish Borders 2,900 
			 Chivenor Devon 9,800 
			 Coleshill Warwickshire 310,300 
			 Crosby Merseyside 271,700 
			 Culdrose Cornwall 22,500 
			 Dundrennan Dumfries and Galloway 5,300 
			 Dunkeswell Aerodrome Devon 40,800 
			 Dyce (Aberdeen Airport) Aberdeen 29,200 
			 Edinburgh Gogarbank Edinburgh 81,500 
			 Eskdalemuir Dumfries and Galloway 6,400 
			 Filton South Gloucestershire 58,800 
			 Heathrow Greater London 583,400 
			 Hereford-Credenhill Herefordshire 53,200 
			 Herstmonceux West End East Sussex 26,500 
			 High Wycombe Buckinghamshire 21,200 
			 Hurn (Bournemouth Airport) Dorset 38,000 
			 Isle of Portland Dorset 5,100 
			 Kinloss Moray 14,900 
			 Kirkwall Orkney 1,200 
			 Lake Vyrnwy Powys 6,000 
			 Leconfield East Riding of Yorkshire 52,800 
			 Lerwick Shetland 1,200 
			 Leuchars Fife 42,600 
			 Linton on Ouse North Yorkshire 138,900 
			 Liscombe Somerset 7,700 
			 Loch Glascamoch Highland 800 
			 Loftus Redcar and Cleveland 57,900 
			 Lusa Highland 700 
			 Lyneham Wiltshire 36,800 
			 Machrihanish Argyll and Bute 3,200 
			 Manston Kent 109,100 
			 Marham Norfolk 25,700 
			 Norwich Airport Norfolk 50,400 
			 Nottingham Nottinghamshire 252,600 
			 Pembrey Sands Carmarthenshire 55,900 
			 Plymouth Plymouth 25,200 
			 Redesdale Northumberland 6,200 
			 Rhyl Denbighshire 16,700 
			 St. Athan Vale of Glamorgan 58,300 
			 St. Catherine's Point Isle of Wight 4,100 
			 Salsburgh North Lanarkshire 15,100 
			 Scilly St. Mary Isles of Scilly 100 
			 Sennybridge Powys 67,500 
			 Shap Cumbria 4,900 
			 Shawbury Shropshire 64,700 
			 South Farnborough Hampshire 60,400 
			 Stornoway Airport Western Isles 2,800 
			 Thorney Island West Sussex 113,000 
			 Tiree Argyll and Bute 100 
			 Trawsgoed Ceredigion 3,400 
			 Tulloch Bridge Highland 2,200 
			 Valley Anglesey 13,300 
			 Waddington Lincolnshire 90,000 
			 Walney Island Cumbria 23,100 
			 Wattisham Suffolk 54,600 
			 West Freugh Dumfries and Galloway 5,000 
			 Wick Airport Highland 2,600 
			 Wittering Peterborough 28,200 
			 Woodford Greater Manchester 208,600 
			 Yeovilton Somerset 27,400 
			  Notes: 1. The admin area gives the location of each weather station, not the area which is linked to the weather station. For example, Heathrow weather station covers almost all of Greater London, but not all of it, and some areas outside Greater London are linked to Heathrow weather station. 2. The estimated numbers of eligible benefit units are the most recently available, but they are only estimates. 3. The estimated numbers of eligible benefit units have been rounded to the nearest 100.  Sources: Admin areas for weather stations: the Met Office, October 2008. Estimated numbers of eligible benefit units: analysis of a scan of benefit recipients eligible for cold weather payments taken at the end of October 2008.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department has allocated for operations in Afghanistan in each year since 2001; and what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on such operations in the next three years.

Bill Rammell: The information on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) funding for operations in Afghanistan, prior to 2006, is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, we can provide the following data of FCO spend in Afghanistan for financial years 2006 to 2009 to show our major areas of spending up to the end of the current Comprehensive Spending Review period:
	
		
			   million 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10( 1) 
			 Administrative and capital costs, geographical directorate 6.7 14.5 (2)29.6 24.8 
			 Contracts: security services (approximate value) 15 19.6 19.6 20.5 
			 Estates Directorate 4.1 4.1 (3) (3) 
			 Strategic Programme Funds: counter-narcotics 16.3 16.3 33.9 21.9 
			 Strategic Programme Funds: migration (4) (4) (2)1.3 1.2 
			 Strategic programme Funds: counter-terrorism 0.8 0 5.4 4.5 
			 Afghanistan Bilateral Programme Budget 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 
			 (1) Estimated allocation. (2) Estimate. (3) Not yet finalised. (4 )Not applicable.

British Overseas Territories

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department are engaged in work relating to overseas territories.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 7 May 2009
	There are 89 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials employed directly on UK Overseas Territories' issues. In addition, other staff with wider FCO responsibilities are called upon as necessary when specific issues arise in the Territories requiring specialist knowledge and expertise.

British Overseas Territories

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's staff work on issues related to the UK Overseas Territories; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: There are 89 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff employed directly on UK Overseas Territories' issues. In addition, other staff with wider FCO responsibilities are called upon as necessary when specific issues arise in the territories requiring specialist knowledge and expertise.

Departmental Rail Travel

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines his Department has in place on train travel by its officials  (a) in the UK,  (b) between the UK and other countries and  (c) overseas.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidelines for staff travelling by train are as follows:
	Within the UK, all staff are entitled to First class rail travel where the one way rail journey time by the quickest and shortest route is two hours or longer according to the published arrival and departure times in the timetable. Standard class rail travel is used by all staff where the one way rail journey time is less than two hours unless there are exceptional circumstances (eg illness, disability) subject to approval by a manager.
	Between the UK and other countries, and overseas, officers in band b (executive officer) and above may travel first class. All other staff travel second or standard class.

EU Institutions: Manpower

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what percentage of the staff of  (a) European Union agencies,  (b) the Council of the European Union,  (c) the European Parliament and  (d) the European Commission were UK nationals in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what percentage of new recruits to the staff of  (a) European Union agencies,  (b) the Council of the European Union,  (c) the European Parliament and  (d) the European Commission were UK nationals in each year since 1997;
	(3)  what percentage of the staff of  (a) the European Parliament,  (b) the Council of the European Union,  (c) European Union agencies and  (d) the European Commission (i) in total and (ii) above grade 14 are UK nationals.

David Miliband: The information required to respond to the first three parts of these parliamentary questions is owned by each EU institution, and it is more appropriate for the institution in question to be approached with any questions on the make-up of their own staff. The European Commission publish their staffing figures annually on the Europa Website:
	http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/about/figures/index_en.htm
	The Government are clear that it is in the EU and UK's interests to have successful UK candidates working at the heart of the EU's institutions.

European Union

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he had  (a) discussions and  (b) meetings with the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia on the situation in the region in the last 12 months.

Caroline Flint: There has been no ministerial contact with the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Central Asia in the last 12 months. However, senior officials have continued to meet the EUSR on a regular basis.

Hamas

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with the House of Commons authorities on the meeting held on the Parliamentary estate on 22 April 2009 involving a video link with a senior leader of Hamas; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: This Department made no representations to the House of Commons authorities regarding a video link meeting with a senior leader of Hamas on 22 April 2009. We are not aware of any representations received from right hon. Members, hon. Members or members of the public regarding this meeting. However, we have consistently called for Hamas to renounce violence, recognise Israel, and adhere to previous Palestinian agreements.

Hostages: British Nationality

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens his Department has been informed are being held hostage abroad; in which countries they are being held; and for how long they have been held in each case.

Gillian Merron: As of 5 May 2009 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing consular assistance to the families of eight British citizens being held hostage abroad. Five British citizens have been held in Iraq since May 2007, one in Somalia since April 2008, one in Nigeria since September 2008 and one in Mali since January 2009.

India: Religious Freedom

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will encourage the Indian government to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief arising from the report of her 2008 mission to India.

Bill Rammell: The UK continues to work through the European Union on a number of human rights issues as part of a continuing EU-India Human Rights Dialogue. The recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief were identified by EU colleagues as a subject for discussion at the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue meeting in February 2009. It was agreed by both sides that there would be continued exchanges about discrimination, including on religious grounds. The recommendations will be a useful point of reference for future engagement with India on human rights issues.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of attacks on Baha'is in the Iranian town of Semnan on 25 February 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have received a series of worrying reports regarding anti-Baha'i activities in Semnan, including looting, arbitrary arrests and the desecration of a Baha'i cemetery. In December 2008 agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided 20 Baha'i homes in the town, and on 25 February 2009 at least two of these homes were subsequently attacked with petrol bombs.
	We have expressed our concerns to the Iranian Government and called on Iran to put an end to the persecution of religious minorities and to respect and protect the right to freedom of religion and belief, as described in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a State Party.

Iran: Nuclear Power

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for East Londonderry of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 29W, on Iran, what his policy is on revisions to June 2008 E3+3 offer to Iran; and what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on this matter.

David Miliband: The E3+3 offer of June 2008 remains on the table and would provide Iran with everything it needs for a modern civil nuclear power programme as well as a range of economic and political benefits.
	The fundamental approach of the E3+3 has not changed. The E3+3 made clear on 8 April 2009 that it is fully committed to the dual-track strategy of pressure and engagement. Our objective remains the suspension of the Iranian nuclear programme as a prerequisite before full negotiations can take place.
	The decision of the US Administration to play a full part in future E3+3 negotiations with Iran presents Iran with a window of opportunity. If Iran suspends its nuclear enrichment programme and enters into talks, we can discuss the details of the offer in more detail. Iran has not yet taken any such steps. Iran should not expect the offer to be open-ended.
	I have met Secretary of State Clinton on a number of occasions to discuss the US review of its Iran policy. Our most recent meeting was on 2 April 2009. Our officials are also in regular contact.

Iran: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 27 December 2006 the UN Sanctions Committee established pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1737 has exercised its mandate to designate additional  (a) individuals,  (b) equipment,  (c) goods and  (d) technology in relation to Iran's nuclear or ballistic missile programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The UN Sanctions Committee established pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1737 has not added new designations under the original Resolution. However, the measures imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 1737 have since been strengthened by UN Security Council Resolutions 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008), which expanded the lists of individuals, equipment, goods and technology subject to sanctions.

Pakistan: Politics and Government

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Pakistani counterpart on the political situation in Swat; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed the situation in North West Frontier Province with Foreign Minister Qureshi on 25 April 2009. Officials based at our high commission in Islamabad also continue to hold frequent discussions about the political situation in Pakistan with a wide range of Pakistani Ministers, politicians and officials. The situation in Swat has been a regular theme of discussions. We have concerns about the recent peace agreementan effective and sustainable peace deal is one which can end violence, not create space for further violence.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) officials and  (b) experts have been sent to the Turks and Caicos Islands as part of his Department's Emergency State Building Team; what the duration of their stay is; and what remit the team has.

Gillian Merron: Two officials have been sent in succession, on a short-term basis, to the Turks and Caicos Islands to work at the Governor's Office.
	Two technical experts have been sent to the Turks and Caicos Islands for a period of 12 months. One is to oversee the disbursement of funds from the UK's 5 million contribution to the Turks and Caicos Islands' Disaster Recovery Plan. The other is to work with the Ministry of Finance in support of the Turks and Caicos Islands' Fiscal Stabilisation Plan.
	In light of the Commission of Inquiry's Final Report, which is due by 31 May 2009, the Government will need to give consideration to the provision of further experts.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Charities: Insolvency

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many registered charities declared themselves insolvent in each of  (a) the last five years and  (b) the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated May 2009:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written parliamentary question on how many registered charities declared themselves insolvent in each of (a) the last five years and (b) the last 12 months.
	With regard to how many registered charities declared themselves insolvent in each of the last five years, the Charity Commission do not currently record this information centrally. However, the following tables which set out the number of charities who were removed from the register, in each year, since 2005 and each month since April 2008 and the reasons recorded for their removal. Our data on reasons for removal from the Register only goes back, in a comparable form, to 2005-06.
	The following tables refer to those charities which are required to register with the Commission by law. Smaller charities are not required to register with us; the threshold for registration was an annual income of 1,000 until April 2007 when this threshold was increased to 5,000.
	Charities removed from the Register due to insolvency are likely to have fallen under the category 'Ceased to exist or operate for other reasons'. However, it is unlikely that insolvency accounts for more than a small minority.
	
		
			  Reason for removal  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Ceased to exist or operate due to merger, incorporation or transfer of funds 1,592 1,725 1,436 4,753 
			 Ceased to exist or operate for other reasons 3,344 2,691 3,270 9,305 
			 Voluntary removal of charities below the minimum registration threshold 28 8 245 281 
			 Duplicate registrations and other corrections 174 152 122 448 
			 Total 5,138 4,576 5,073 14,787 
		
	
	
		
			   2008  2009  
			  Reason for removal  Apr  May  June  July  Aug  Sept  Oc t  No v  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Total 
			 Ceased to exist or operate due to merger, incorporation or transfer of funds 148 104 148 54 44 180 112 164 139 153 235 103 1,584 
			 Ceased to exist or operate for other reasons 233 457 314 308 265 300 390 1,367 540 282 398 328 5,182 
			 Voluntary removal of charities below the minimum registration threshold 18 24 22 23 8 22 35 18 27 32 87 300 616 
			 Duplicate registrations and other corrections 5 1 7 3 3 3 1 4 2 4 2 6 41 
			 Total 404 586 491 388 320 505 538 1,553 708 471 722 737 7,423 
		
	
	The figures for 2008-09 show an increase over previous years as a result of our work to improve the accuracy of the Register of Charities. A key aspect of our strategy is the prompt removal of charities that are inactive and with which we can no longer establish contact. The marked peak in November 2008 is a direct consequence of this strategy.
	I hope this is helpful.

Death: Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) alcohol and  (b) illegal drug-related deaths there were in (i) Crosby constituency and (ii) Merseyside in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many  (a) alcohol and  (b) illegal drug-related deaths there were in (i) Crosby constituency and (ii) Merseyside in the last 12 months. (273608)
	The tables attached provide the number of deaths where  (a) the underlying cause was alcohol related (Table 1) and  (b) the underlying cause was drug poisoning, where any drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was mentioned on the death certificate (Table 2), in Crosby constituency and Merseyside metropolitan county in 2007 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of alcohol-related deaths,( 1 ) Crosby constituency and Merseyside metropolitan county( 2) , 2007( 3) 
			   Deaths 
			 Crosby constituency 10 
			 Merseyside metropolitan county 304 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was alcohol-related, as shown in box 1. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (3) All figures are for deaths registered in 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  Box 1. Alcohol-related causes of death - International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) 
			  Cause of death  1CIM0 code(s) 
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol F10 
			 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol G3U 
			 Alcoholic polyneuropathy G62.1 
			 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy 142.6 
			 Alcoholic gastritis K29.2 
			 Alcoholic liver disease K70 
			 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified K73 
			 Fibrose and cirrhosis of liver (excl. Biliary cirrhosis) K74 (excl.K74.3-K74.5) 
			 Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis K86.0 
			 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X45 
			 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X65 
			 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent Y15 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Number of deaths from drug misuse( 1) , Crosby constituency and Merseyside metropolitan county( 2) , 2007( 3) 
			   Deaths 
			 Crosby constituency 2 
			 Merseyside metropolitan county 51 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning, as shown in box 2, and where a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was mentioned on the death certificate. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (3) All figures are for deaths registered in 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  Box 2. Drug-related poisoning deaths International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) 
			  Cause of death  ICD-10 
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) F11-F16,F18-F19 
			 Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X40-X44 
			 Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X60-X64 
			 Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X85 
			 Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent Y10-Y14

Death: Nutrition

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many deaths from malnutrition and the effects of hunger there have been in settings other than hospitals and private and public care homes in each Government Office region since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths from malnutrition and the effects of hunger there have been in settings other than hospitals and private and public care homes in each Government Office region since 1997. (273544)
	Malnutrition may be recorded as the underlying cause of death, but this is a rare occurrence. The 'effects of hunger', as the effects of malnutrition may be reported on a death certificate, is never recorded as the underlying cause of death, because it is defined by the International Classification of Diseases as a 'secondary cause' only. Consequently, deaths with any mention of either of these causes on the death certificate are reported together.
	The attached tables provide the numbers of deaths in settings other than hospitals and private and public care homes where (a) malnutrition was the underlying cause of death (Table 1), and (b) malnutrition or 'effects of hunger' was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate (Table 2), for persons resident in each government office region in England, for the years 1998 to 2007 (the latest year available). Table 2 includes deaths where malnutrition was a complication of the underlying cause (for example cancer of the stomach) in addition to deaths where it was reported as the underlying cause.
	
		
			  Table 1. Deaths in settings other than hospitals and care homes where malnutrition was the underlying cause of death( 1) , persons resident in Government office regions in England( 2) , 1997  to  2007( 3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Government office region  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 
			 Northwest 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 3 3 1 1 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 
			 East Midlands 0 2 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 
			 West Midlands 2 4 2 1 3 1 2 1 2 1 2 
			 East of England 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 2 
			 London 2 1 1 4 2 0 1 2 1 1 4 
			 South East 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 
			 South West 4 7 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 0 1 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 260-269 (malnutrition) for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes E40-E46 (malnutrition) for 2001 onwards. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from each cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Deaths in settings other than hospitals and care homes where malnutrition or effects of hunger were mentioned on the death certificate( 1) , persons resident in Government office regions in England( 2) , 1997  to  2007( 3) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Government office region  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 1 4 2 2 2 2 1 4 4 2 2 
			 Northwest 6 2 4 2 4 2 5 4 9 7 5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 3 5 6 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 4 
			 East Midlands 4 3 4 4 2 2 2 3 1 5 5 
			 West Midlands 14 12 11 6 11 3 4 6 3 5 5 
			 East of England 6 4 8 3 5 5 3 3 2 7 8 
			 London 12 7 10 7 3 1 6 2 3 6 5 
			 South East 4 6 6 8 2 3 5 4 6 7 6 
			 South West 23 22 9 5 5 2 5 9 7 4 2 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the international Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 260-269 (malnutrition) and E904.1 (effects of hunger) for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes E40-E46 (malnutrition) and T73.0 (effects of hunger) for 2001 onwards. Deaths were included where one of these causes was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means mat the numbers of deaths from each cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Departmental Buildings

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department spent on building maintenance in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Scott) on 28 January 2009,  Official Report, column 676W.

Departmental Stationery

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department spent on the purchase of  (a) recycled office supplies in the last 12 months and  (b) printer ink cartridges in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not readily available and may not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Non-profit Making Associations: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the recession on not-for-profit organisations in the London Borough of Bexley.

Kevin Brennan: The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) is working with key partners to understand the impact of the economic downturn on third sector organisations. At present the available evidence is incomplete and it is too soon to fully evaluate the impact of the downturn on the sector at a constituency level.
	The Government continue to take the difficulties many third sector organisations face during this recession very seriously, which is why the 42.5 million package announced in Real help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises provides targeted help for the sector to face these challenges. This package of support was designed together with third sector leaders and took into account submissions from over 80 charities. This action plan builds on the wide range of measures the Government have put in place to support people through the economic downturn, and on the Government's long-term commitment to voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
	The OTS will continue to monitor this situation closely and work with its partners to share evidence on this issue and will host a sector-wide summit on the economic downturn in June. In addition, the Third Sector Research Centre will also be factoring the impact of the downturn into its analysis of the sector.

Pensioners: Merseyside

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in households with a net income of less than 130 a week in  (a) Crosby constituency and  (b) Merseyside in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners with a net household income of less than 130 a week in (a) Crosby constituency and (b) Merseyside in each of the last five years. (273614)
	The information requested is not available.

Sexuality: Statistics

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Office for National Statistics' Sexual Identity Project has concluded; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the project's most recent report.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on whether the Office for National Statistics' Sexual Identity Project has concluded; and if the most recent report will be placed in the Library (274079).
	The ONS Sexual Identity Project formally concluded on 8 May 2009 with the publication of guidance on measuring sexual identity in social surveys and a report on a pilot survey which was used to inform the addition of the sexual identity question on all ONS social surveys in January 2009.
	These reports are available on the National Statistics website at the following addresses:
	Measuring Sexual Identity: A guide for researchers:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutstatistics/measuringequality/sexualidentityproject/guidance/measuring-sexual-identity--a-guide-for-researchers.pdf
	Developing survey questions on sexual identity: Report on the General Lifestyle (GLF) split-sample pilot:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutstatistics/measuringequality/sexualidentityproject/questtestand-implem/index.html
	Copies of these reports will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	In addition, ONS is planning to publish experimental statistics on sexual identity in Autumn 2009 with the aim of first national statistics estimates being available in 2010.

Skin Cancer

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) men and  (b) women in each age group have been diagnosed with skin cancer in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) men and (b) women in each age group have been diagnosed with skin cancer in each of the last 10 years.
	The latest figures for newly diagnosed cases (incidence) of malignant melanoma of skin registered in England are for the year 2006. Figures from 1997 to 2006 for (a) men and (b) women by age group are given in Tables 1 and 2.
	
		
			  Table 1, Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma of skin( 1) , by age group, Males, England, 1997 to 2006 
			  Age  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Under 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 1-4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 
			 5-9 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 
			 10-14 4 4 0 2 2 5 3 2 2 3 
			 15-19 14 15 17 13 9 7 8 16 25 21 
			 20-24 35 22 22 32 41 41 40 44 49 50 
			 25-29 70 70 58 65 72 65 60 78 70 87 
			 30-34 89 107 97 110 134 116 121 120 119 109 
			 35-39 110 119 123 143 139 163 152 200 198 214 
			 40-44 138 160 148 165 185 180 177 258 255 262 
			 45-49 177 173 181 170 219 226 219 245 240 267 
			 50-54 219 261 232 252 270 240 248 258 287 290 
			 55-59 203 206 209 248 270 342 360 371 451 426 
			 60-64 235 215 249 298 298 321 342 368 383 472 
			 65-69 233 243 251 295 302 311 324 376 435 446 
			 70-74 234 230 221 269 277 324 358 354 416 457 
			 75-79 194 190 225 272 253 266 281 311 340 371 
			 80-84 115 127 144 188 189 195 234 253 269 313 
			 85+ 84 93 110 117 141 139 142 177 167 220 
			 Total 2,154 2,236 2,287 2,640 2,801 2,946 3,069 3,432 3,706 4,009 
			 (1 )Malignant melanoma of skin is coded to C43 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10)  Source:  Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2, Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma of skin( 1) , by age group, Females, England, 1997 to 2006 
			  Age  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Under 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1-4 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 
			 5-9 0 2 1 0 0 2 3 1 2 2 
			 10-14 3 1 5 1 2 2 5 4 3 4 
			 15-19 18 21 23 22 26 17 19 34 38 33 
			 20-24 57 53 56 73 85 90 67 84 104 94 
			 25-29 123 133 112 137 150 152 121 148 178 182 
			 30-34 140 171 184 202 195 240 221 251 241 233 
			 35-39 180 168 211 219 260 214 295 284 297 343 
			 40-44 200 211 202 261 272 235 267 327 342 362 
			 45-49 259 271 228 246 319 278 301 326 334 381 
			 50-54 276 296 294 332 355 366 363 360 351 409 
			 55-59 216 227 267 302 329 378 390 426 424 459 
			 60-64 269 232 238 266 260 271 303 361 374 433 
			 65-69 257 228 287 268 299 323 307 328 386 347 
			 70-74 251 244 266 262 296 319 319 326 356 372 
			 75-79 226 257 277 274 278 322 306 330 363 349 
			 80-84 197 184 181 243 267 246 269 283 309 318 
			 85+ 191 202 215 248 212 259 293 291 292 328 
			 Total 2,864 2,902 3,050 3,356 3,605 3,715 3,849 4,164 4,396 4,649 
			 (1 )Malignant melanoma of skin is coded to C43 in the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10)  Source:  Office for National Statistics.

Trading Funds: Accountancy

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to box 3.A of the final report of the Operational Efficiency programme, what additional resources are to be made available to the Office of Public Sector Information to enable enhanced oversight of trading funds.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) will deliver enhanced oversight and governance from within existing resources. Balancing impact, priorities and resourcing continues to be a priority and OPSI will continue to focus on ensuring fair and transparent access to public sector information through the range of initiatives and responsibilities within OPSI's remit.

Unemployment

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) men and  (b) women over the age of 50 years became unemployed in (i) England, (ii) Essex and (iii) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) men and (b) women became unemployed at an age of over 50 years in (i) England, (ii) Essex and (iii) Castle Point constituency in each of the last five years. (273372)
	Estimates of the number of people aged 50 and over who are unemployed are routinely published, for example in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release, available on:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk
	These include estimates of the duration of unemployment. However, there are no estimates available for the numbers becoming unemployed at an age of over 50 years in each year.

Unemployment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) men and  (b) women over 50 years old became unemployed in (i) Crosby constituency, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) England in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) men and (b) women of an age over 50 years became unemployed in (i) Crosby constituency, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) England in each of the last five years. (273615)
	Estimates of the number of people aged 50 and over who are unemployed are routinely published, for example in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release, available on:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk
	These include estimates of the duration of unemployment. However, there are no estimates available for the numbers becoming unemployed at an age of over 50 years in each year.

Voluntary Organisations: Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of funding from his Department for third sector organisations is allocated to organisations which operate only in the United Kingdom.

Kevin Brennan: The Office of the Third Sector does not fund programmes outside the United Kingdom. Records of which organisations it funds which also operate in other countries are not held centrally.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children In Care: Young Offenders

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in care have a criminal record.

Beverley Hughes: The information asked for is not collected centrally by the Department.

Children: Care Homes

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on making information on the location of children's homes available to police forces; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Secretary of State has not received any representations on making information on the location of children's homes available to the police.
	Children's homes are required to notify the police where a child from the home has been involved in a serious incident. The home is also required to have effective protocols in place that involve the police for instances where children go missing from care.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what matters remain to be resolved regarding unshielded duplicate records of shielded children on ContactPoint; who is responsible for resolving them; and what steps he is taking to achieve a resolution;
	(2)  how many and which local authorities did not meet the 13 March shielding policies deadline for ContactPoint.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 27 April 2009
	The information needed for ContactPoint comes from existing systems, national and local. These data will be refreshed and updated automatically from these systems on a regular basis. We have received core information from four national data sources and this is the data set that all LAs have been working on to shield records. Work has also begun on the first updated data load from these sources, to ensure records held on ContactPoint are as accurate and up-to-date as possible.
	We received a few reports of cases where updates from these sources may not be matching as expected. We took immediate action to investigate and initial indications are that matching is working correctly.
	However, as a transitional precautionary measure, we have paused the ongoing data update feed while we investigate the instances reported to us.
	This will minimise any risk to records that have been shielded.
	Data feed from national systems will re-commence once all local authority ContactPoint management teams have been given access to ContactPoint.
	DCSF continue to investigate the reports of duplicate records and will make changes as necessary.
	We are taking a prudent and incremental approach to ContactPoint delivery. Local authorities provided a progress update on their shielding activity 13 March, which included whether they had robust arrangements in place to deal with shielding requests on an ongoing basis. Two thirds of local authorities confirmed that they had completed the required shielding actions. These responses were sent in confidence and as part of the normal, ongoing discussion between the Departments and local authorities and as part of the implementation process.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of registered IP addresses from which ContactPoint will be accessible.

Beverley Hughes: There has been no estimate of the likely maximum number of registered IP addresses from which ContactPoint will be accessible. We expect that the majority of users will access ContactPoint via secure Government networks. The remainder will only be able to access ContactPoint from known, accredited computer systems.
	Organisations that access ContactPoint via accredited computer systems will be asked to register IP address(es) for any computer that will be used to gain access. The number of IP addresses each organisation supplies will depend on many factors, including their network architecture. Some organisations will supply one IP address, others will supply a range.

Children: Human Trafficking

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of children recovered from trafficking activities who have subsequently gone missing from local authority care in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: Although information is collected centrally about the number of children who go missing from their care placement, it is not possible to derive data from these statistics about the number who may have been trafficked before coming into care.
	The information collected for 2007-08 can be found in Table LAB5 on the weblink as follows:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000810/FinalDecemberTables.xls
	Local authorities have a range of duties to support looked after children to ensure that their needs are met including that they are effectively safeguarded. The care plan of looked after children known to have been previously trafficked should include how to minimise the risk of traffickers being able to re-involve a child in exploitative activities and contingency procedures to be followed if the young person goes missing from care.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2009,  Official Report, column 548W, on children: protection, what legal qualifications the senior officials who supplied the professional advice on the publication of the serious case review have.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 17 March 2009
	Ministers receive advice from officials with a range of relevant professional qualifications, including legal qualifications.

Coln House Special School

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has received a proposal from Gloucestershire County Council to change the status of Coln House Special School.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I can confirm that the Secretary of State has not, to date, received a copy of a statutory proposal notice relating to Coln House Special School.
	The responsibility for considering formal proposals about school organisation is a local decision making process and is the responsibility of the LA. The independent schools adjudicator considers any appeals against proposals being made by a LA.
	The Department has introduced guidance for LAs and other proposers on Planning and Developing Special Educational Needs Provision. The guidance requires that when considering any reorganisation of special educational needs (SEN) provision proposers will need to demonstrate to parents, the local community and decision makers how the proposed alternative arrangements are likely to lead to improvements in the standard, quality and/or range of educational provision for children with SEN.

Departmental Complaints

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what procedure his Department follows for dealing with complaints received  (a) by e-mail,  (b) by post,  (c) by telephone and  (d) via his Department's website.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Upon receipt of a complaint, no matter how it is received, the Department will respond within 15 working days. If it is not possible to give a full reply within this time, for example, if a complaint requires more detailed investigation, we will provide an interim response outlining what is being done to deal with the complaint, when a full reply can be expected and from whom.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessor spent on event management services in each of the last three years; and whether such services were supplied by external providers.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department's spend on event management services in each of the last three years cannot be collated without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff employed in London on work contracted out by his Department earn less than 7.45 per hour.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department currently pays all directly and indirectly employed staff working on its London site at least 7.45 per hour.

Departmental Stationery

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on branded stationery and gifts for  (a) internal and  (b) external promotional use in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To provide a comprehensive answer would incur disproportionate costs.

Pre-school Education: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in Tamworth constituency took up free nursery places in each of the last 10 years.

Beverley Hughes: The Department publishes information on the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four year-olds. This is derived by counting children taking up 12 and a half hours per week as one place, 10 hours per week as 0.8 places, seven and a half hours per week as 0.6 places, five hours per week as 0.4 places and two and a half hours per week as 0.2 places.
	Table 1 provides this information for Tamworth parliamentary constituency area from 2004 to 2008. Data at parliamentary constituency level are not available prior to 2004.
	
		
			  Table 1: Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3 ) filled by  3  and  4- year - olds: Parliamentary constituency, TamworthPosition in January each year 
			   3 -year- olds  4-year- olds 
			   Maintained  nursery and primary schools( 4)  Other  maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 5)  Total  3 year olds  Maintained  nursery and primary schools( 6)  Other  maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 7)  Total  4 year olds 
			 2004 260 610 870 900 120 1,000 
			 2005 310 590 910 900 140 1,000 
			 2006 260 560 830 850 190 1,000 
			 2007 310 650 950 760 190 950 
			 2008 310 690 1,000 820 230 1,100 
			 (1) A place is equal to 12.5 hours (five sessions) and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Prior to 2004, information on early education places was derived from returns made by local authorities as part of the nursery education grant (NEG) data collection exercise. These data were collected at local authority level, therefore, data for this parliamentary constituency prior to 2004 is not available. (4) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year. Data taken from the School Census. (5) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31st December in the previous calendar year. Data taken from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (6) Headcount of children aged four at 31st December in the previous calendar year. Data taken from the School Census. (7) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year. Data taken from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four year olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 12/2008 Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2008, available on the Department's website
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000790/index.shtml

Runaway Children

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities will be assessed under national indicator 71 on young people who run away from home or care.

Beverley Hughes: As part of the monitoring of performance under national indicator 71, all local authorities must provide quarterly self-assessments on the extent to which their Children's Trust, local Safeguarding Children's Board, or other delegated body has a picture of patterns of running away in their area; of how this information informs local service provision; and of what procedures are in place to respond to the needs of young runaways.
	One local authorityWarwickshirehas selected national indicator 71 as one of indicators for which a specified target for improvement is attached, as part of their local area agreement.

Supporting People Programme

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in which local authority areas children's services work directly with the Supporting People programme to commission accommodation support services for  (a) young people at risk and  (b) care leavers.

Beverley Hughes: In May 2008, DCLG and DCSF jointly issued guidance Joint working between Housing and Children's ServicesPreventing homelessness and tackling its effects on children and young people. This asks LA children's services and housing services, including services funded by Supporting People, to establish a joint approach to prevent young people with housing needs being passed between services unnecessarily and to maximise positive accommodation outcomes for them. Specific guidance was given on supporting care leavers.
	Information about the how such partnerships operate locally is not collected centrally.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Council Tax: Second Homes

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Solicitor-General how many people have been prosecuted for a false claim for a council tax discount on a second home in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The administration of council tax is a matter for individual local authorities and data on prosecutions are not collected centrally.

HEALTH

Out-of-hours GP Care

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the performance of private healthcare companies contracted to provide out-of-hours GP care.

Ben Bradshaw: We have had no recent correspondence on the general issue of private healthcare companies contracted to provide out of hours general practitioner care. However, we have had correspondence on the Dr. Daniel Ubani case.
	Neither the National Audit Office report on out of hours services from May 2006 nor the Healthcare Commission review of Urgent and Emergency care from September 2008 reported any evidence that independent sector providers delivered a lower quality of out of hours care.

GP Access

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that patients resident in border areas of England have access to a GP registered in England.

Ben Bradshaw: We are aware of a small number of cases where patients resident in England, registered with a general practitioner (GP) in Wales, have had difficulty switching to an English GP because they do not live within any English GP practice's boundaries.
	This was discussed with Gloucestershire NHS during a visit to the Forest of Dean last week and they will seek to resolve the case of the particular couple the hon. Gentleman has raised. They also intend surveying all Gloucestershire residents registered with GPs in Wales to measure how many might wish to change and will consider providing new GP services in the area covered.

Specialist Hospitals

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the future of specialist hospitals within the NHS.

Ben Bradshaw: The organisation of services to deliver high quality care is the responsibility of the local and regional NHS. There can be a strong future for specialist hospitals but this will depend on their providing services that the NHS wishes to commission and which are sustainable.

Maternity Services

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of provision of maternity services in  (a) Upminster and  (b) England.

Phil Hope: In 2008, the Healthcare Commission published 'Towards better births, a review of maternity services in England' which assessed the quality, capability and efficiency of maternity services in England.
	There has been no local assessment of maternity services in Upminster specifically, but a general assessment of midwifery services in the area highlighted the need for more resources in midwifery and support services. Investment and recruitment plans are already in place to address this issue.

Maternity Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest assessment is of the adequacy of maternity services in  (a) Peterborough constituency and  (b) England.

Phil Hope: In 2008, the Healthcare Commission published Towards better births, a review of maternity services in England which assessed the quality, capability and efficiency of maternity services in England.
	Peterborough Primary Care Trust commissions most of its maternity services from Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This includes the births at home, within the midwifery led unit and in the obstetric unit. The caesarean section rate is one of the lowest in the country.

Maternity Services

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest assessment is of the adequacy of maternity services in  (a) Gravesham and  (b) England.

Phil Hope: In 2008, the Healthcare Commission published 'Towards better births, a review of maternity services in England' which assessed the quality, capability and efficiency of maternity services in England.
	The South East Coast Strategic Health Authority undertook a needs-assessment of maternity services across west Kent in 2008.

Cervarix Vaccine

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to investigate recent reports of partial paralysis and severe chronic fatigue syndrome experienced by a number of girls shortly after receiving the Cervarix vaccine.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) considers the safety of vaccines to be of paramount importance and has in place a proactive strategy to monitor the safety of Cervarix vaccine as girls are immunised in the United Kingdom.
	To date almost one million doses of Cervarix have been given in the UK and there is no evidence to suggest that Cervarix vaccine has caused chronic fatigue syndrome, paralytic disorders or any other serious or long-term side effects.

NHS Dentistry

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people not registered with an NHS dentist.

Dawn Primarolo: 52.9 per cent. of the population of England saw a national health service dentist in the 24 months ending September 2008.
	We have increased dental funding to over 2 billion and made it a national priority in the NHS operating framework that primary care trusts commission services to ensure access to anyone who seeks help in finding an NHS dentist. The NHS is planning that all PCTs will deliver this by March 2011.

NHS Dentistry

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the ratio of NHS dentists to residents in  (a) Kettering,  (b) Northamptonshire and  (c) England; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is only available to primary care trust (PCT) level. As of 31 March 2008 there were 41 national health service dentists per 100,000 patients in England. In Northamptonshire PCT there were 38.
	The dental work force is growing. The same data show that there were 655 more dentists working in the NHS in 2007-08 than there were in the previous year.

Allergy Services

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the outcome of the specialist allergy services hub pilot in the north-west; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: NHS North West have spent the last nine months developing a model for networked allergy services, to be launched in October 2009.
	Means of assessing the effectiveness of this model are being integrated into service planning. The strategic health authority (SHA) will liaise regularly with fellow SHAs to share early learning.

Thalidomide

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department provides specifically to support those people affected by thalidomide.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier today.

Hospital Acquired Infection

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the number of people who  (a) acquired infections and  (b) died from infections acquired in hospital in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Best available surveillance data show 3,208 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 40,704 Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) reports in 2008 and 910 Glycopeptide resistant Enterococci reports in October 2006 to September 2007 and 418 surgical site infections in orthopaedic surgery in April 2007 to March 2008.
	In 2007, the Office for National Statistics recorded 460 deaths where MRSA and 4,056 deaths where Clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate as the underlying cause.
	Latest figures show MRSA infections are down 38 per cent. on the same quarter in 2007, and C. difficile infections in patients over two years old are down 35 per cent. on the same quarter in 2007.

NHS Hospitals: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the performance of NHS hospital services in Bexley.

Ben Bradshaw: Annual assessment of performance is undertaken by the Care Quality Commission, formerly Healthcare Commission. Their last report was published in October 2008.
	The details for the hon. Gentleman's local hospital and primary care trust are available on the new regulator the CQC's website
	www.cqc.org.uk
	and on NHS Choices
	www.nhs.uk.

Social Enterprises

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in developing the role of social enterprises in the provision of NHS healthcare.

Phil Hope: In support of the Right to Request commitment, we have produced guidance and templates and we are working with NHS Pensions, commissioners and our pathfinders to further increase understanding and capacity.
	Through the Social Enterprise Investment Fund, the Department has so far invested 20 million in 200 start-up and existing social enterprises.

Prescription Costs

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the pricing of pharmaceutical specials on NHS prescriptions for the purpose of identifying savings in prescription costs.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer given to him earlier today.

Tuberculosis

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a national target for reducing the incidence of tuberculosis.

Dawn Primarolo: The national health service next stage review considered all aspects of healthcare including tuberculosis and the need to set new targets. It introduced no new national targets, to ensure that the NHS continues to focus on the small number of targets in the NHS operating framework. Where the incidence of tuberculosis is a local issue, primary care trusts are empowered to deal with it.

Alcoholic Drinks: Children

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged under 10 years attended hospital accident and emergency departments where the primary or secondary diagnosis was alcohol-related in each health trust area in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested on alcohol-related attendances in accident and emergency departments is not collected centrally.

Cancer: Health Services

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans  (a) his Department and  (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has to provide (i) cancer and (ii) cancer-related lymphoedema patients equal access to specialist NHS treatment in each region.

Dawn Primarolo: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to make decisions on the commissioning of lymphoedema services based on guidance already issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on treatment for lymphoedema. In 2002, NICE updated its Improving outcomes in breast cancer guidance, which makes recommendations on the identification and management of lymphoedema and on the provision of lymphoedema services. In 2004, NICE made further recommendations for commissioners of health services on the provision of the range and volume of rehabilitation services, including lymphoedema therapists, in its Improving Supportive and Palliative care for Adults with Cancer guidance. Recommendations on lymphoedema management were also made in NICE'S clinical guidelines on breast cancer published in February 2009. This guidance can be found on NICE's website at:
	www.nice.org.uk.
	Through the Department's National Cancer Survivorship Initiative, formally launched in September 2008, we are looking at the late effects and long-term consequences of cancer and its treatment, including effects such as lymphoedema.

Drugs: Children

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of prescribing anti-psychotic drugs to persons under the age of 16 years was in each health trust area in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not held in the format requested.

Health Services

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS facilities have been  (a) closed and  (b) had a reduction in the number of services provided since May 1997.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Deciding where and how to provide national health service services is a matter for the local NHS, in conjunction with clinicians, patients and other stakeholders. The Department's 2008 publicationLeading Local Changemakes clear that any changes should be locally led, clinically driven and built upon a sound clinical case for change. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

Influenza: Vaccination

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that immunosuppressive people with a prescription for influenza vaccine have access to the vaccine; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The national policy is that seasonal influenza vaccine should be offered to all those aged six months or over in a clinical at-risk group, including immunosuppression. The responsibility for ordering seasonal influenza vaccines for the target population lies with general practitioners (GPs). GPs have a contractual responsibility to their primary care trust under the Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services) (England) Directions 2006 to develop a proactive and preventative approach to offering immunisation against influenza with the aim of maximising uptake in the interest of at-risk patients.

Injuries: Children

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged under 10 years attended hospital accident and emergency departments where the primary or secondary diagnosis was a stab wound or other injury inflicted by a sharp or pointed instrument in each health trust area in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Information about the number of children aged 10 years or younger, who have been admitted to hospital accident and emergency departments where the primary or secondary diagnosis was a stab wound or other injury inflicted by a sharp or pointed instrument is not collected centrally and it is therefore not possible to specify numbers.

Lyme Disease

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the treatment of borreliosis.

Dawn Primarolo: Clinical guidelines for the treatment of borreliosis, commonly known as Lyme disease, are provided to general practitioners and other physicians by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and published on the HPA's website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAwebHPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1204031510081?p=1199451958599
	The treatment guidelines published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 2006(1) are included within the HPA's advice, together with published guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of neuroborreliosis(2,3).
	In addition, the HPA's Lyme Disease Reference Unit advises clinicians directly on treatment and patient referral as appropriate.
	 Source:
	(1) The Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme Disease, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Wormser GP, Dattwyler RJ, Shapiro ED, et al. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2006; 43: 1089-34. Available at:
	www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v43n9/40897/40897.html
	(2) Halperin JJ, Logigian EL, Finkel MF, Pearl RA. Practice parameters for the diagnosis of patients with nervous system Lyme borreliosis (Lyme disease). Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 1996 46: 619-627.
	(3) Practice Parameter: Treatment of nervous system Lyme disease (an evidence-based review). Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. E-published ahead of print on 23 May 2007. Available at:
	www.neurology.org/cgi/rapidpdf/0l.wnl.0000265517 .66976.28vl

Methadone

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of prescribing methadone was in each NHS trust in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Theft

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many thefts from NHS premises have been recorded in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Radon Gas

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to provide  (a) high level alerts and  (b) public health advice to those resident in areas prone to high levels of radon gas.

Dawn Primarolo: Householders and employers are able to find out the risk of a high radon gas level in a property from the radon probability maps of the United Kingdom published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and, for England and Wales, the British Geological Survey.
	The HPA operates a website
	www.ukradon.org.
	It holds annual radon forums with local government, the national health service, the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and other stakeholders to publicise the radon programme, to receive feedback, and to explore any policy gaps. HPA also supports regional radon steering groups comprising groupings of local authorities in high risk areas of England and recommends testing homes in radon affected areas (that is where 1 per cent. or more of homes are estimated to be above the Action Level of 200 Bequerels/m(3)).
	The basis of the Government radon programme in England for existing homes is to target the higher risk areas, where 5 per cent. or more of the houses are estimated to be above the action level. Radon testing programmes are run in partnership between HPA and local authorities, with radon tests offered free to householders in these areas. The local primary care trust and the BRE provide support and registered social landlords such as local councils and housing associations are encouraged to extend the radon testing programmes to all their properties in radon affected areas. HPA informs householders and landlords by letter of the result of the radon test and whether it is near to or exceeds the action level. If so, remediation is advised and householders are encouraged to attend special local events to discuss remediation organised jointly by the HPA, the relevant local authority and the BRE. A small number of homes in England have been found to have radon levels in excess of 10,000 Bq/m(3) (50 times the action level). HPA offers financial help and works with the local authority to remediate these homes, using advice from the BRE to help local contractors.
	Devolved Administrations generally mirror English policies and contribute proportionate funds to HPA for each initiative. In particular, a similar radon programme has recently been announced by the Scottish Government, to accompany publication by the HPA of new radon maps for Scotland.

Social Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the job descriptions of his Department's Deputy Regional Directors for Social Care and Partnerships are; and who has been appointed to each such post.

Phil Hope: The deputy regional director's job description is contained in Job ProformaDeputy Regional Director which has been placed in the Library.
	The appointed deputy regional directors are:
	
		
			   Deputy regional d irector 
			 London Ian Winter 
			 North West David Jones 
			 North East Wendy Balmain 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Philip Lewer (Interim) 
			 East Midlands Rachel Holynska 
			 West Midlands Denise Porter 
			 East of England Amanda Reynolds 
			 South West Lynne Dean 
			 South East Ian Bainbridge

Swine Flu: Health Education

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to make swine influenza information distributed by the Government accessible to deaf people who use British Sign Language.

Dawn Primarolo: A British Sign Language version of the swine flu information leaflet will be available to download from the NHS Choices and Directgov websites from Thursday 14 May and by DVD from Wednesday 20 May.

Swine Flu: Health Education

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions his Department will make to ensure that deaf and hearing-impaired people have access to the same information as hearing people in respect of the National Flu Helpline.

Dawn Primarolo: The Swine Flu Information helpline is automated. It offers recorded information but no interaction with call handlers and is not therefore accessible to deaf or hearing impaired people. However, deaf and hearing-impaired people may access the same information through websites and a British Sign Language version of the swine flu information leaflet, available from the NHS Choices and Directgov websites from Thursday 14 May and on DVD from Wednesday 20 May.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Development

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisation was awarded the contract as the national partner for the Community Builders programme.

Sadiq Khan: The competition for the contract to act as national partner for the Community Builders programme is still in progress. The Department is currently evaluating tenders and expects to make an announcement in June.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the contribution of the Minister for Local Government on 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 473, on council tax, what ideas were submitted to the Minister by the hon. Member for Southampton, Test (Dr. Whitehead).

John Healey: The contents of letters from an individual Member to Communities and Local Government Ministers are treated as private; and, unless the sender specifies otherwise, are not released for public consumption.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 736W, on council tax: valuation, how many domestic dwellings in England were assigned the code CL26 in each year between 1997-98 and 2005-06.

John Healey: The number of properties in England reviewed and cleared with the notification code CL26 in each year between 1997-98 and 2005-06 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997-98 60,365 
			 1998-99 53,811 
			 1999-2000 50,844 
			 2000-01 39,010 
			 2001-02 27,724 
			 2002-03 31,002 
			 2003-04 36,652 
			 2004-05 29,928 
			 2005-06 31,147

Departmental Complaints

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what procedure her Department follows for dealing with complaints received  (a) by e-mail,  (b) by post,  (c) by telephone and  (d) via her Department's website.

Sadiq Khan: Full details of how Communities and Local Government handles complaints via all these channels can be found on the Communities website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/freedom-of-information/complaintsprocedure/

Departmental Internet

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding has been assigned to the production of video content for her Department's YouTube channel in 2009-10.

Sadiq Khan: None.

Departmental Procurement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1279W, on departmental procurement, what the title was of the digital mapping project; and what services that project was commissioned to provide.

Sadiq Khan: The project is called the Pan-Government Agreement, which provides a portfolio of geographical information to central Government Departments. We procured aerial photography from Infoterra.

Departmental Responsibilities

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Minister is responsible for each regional spatial strategy.

Sadiq Khan: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has overall responsibility for regional spatial strategies.
	Day to day responsibility for the eight regional spatial strategies is divided among the CLG ministerial team as follows.
	I have responsibility for:
	South East;
	East Midlands;
	East of England;
	Yorkshire and Humber.
	Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, The Baroness Andrews has responsibility for:
	South West;
	West Midlands;
	North West;
	North East.

Derelict Land: Gardens

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what date she expects her Department to have completed the first stage of its review of the effect of development on gardens.

Iain Wright: The deadline for responses from local authorities is 29 May, and we aim to conclude the review by the summer.

Derelict Land: Gardens

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many responses from local authorities her Department has received to its review of the effect of development on gardens.

Iain Wright: We will make further statements about the review in due course.

Domestic Violence

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contribution her Department has made to the cross-Government consultation, Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Children and to the development of Government policy in this area.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government has been positively engaged with work on, Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls on which the Home Office is leading, since it commenced last year. During the development of the consultation document, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government wrote to the Home Secretary to affirm her support for this important agenda particularly through work on the domestic violence agenda, the Supporting People programme and through the domestic violence virtual unit. The Department's officials have actively supported the cross-Government working group that has shaped and developed the current consultation document.

Economic Situation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 1498-502W, on departmental conferences, if she will place in the Library a copy of the presentations and handouts produced for the Regeneration in Recession seminar on 18 February 2009.

Sadiq Khan: Henry Overman and Ian Gordon of the Spatial Economics Research Centre, London School of Economics, presented their views at the Regeneration in Recession seminar on 18 February 2009. External stakeholders are responsible for their own presentations and handouts.

Energy Performance Certificates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 128W, on energy performance certificates, how many fixed penalties have been imposed on landlords in each month since the provisions of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive took effect in England.

Iain Wright: Penalty notices are issued by local weights and measures authorities who are empowered to enforce the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. There is no requirement for the Department to be informed when a penalty charge notice is issued.

EU Grants and Loans

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 740W, on the European Commission: financial corrections, what the monetary value is of the provision made for further financial corrections relating to audits carried out on the 1997 to 1999 round of structural fund programmes.

John Healey: The provision made for further financial corrections relating to audits carried out on the 1997 to 1999 round of structural fund programmes was 25.7 million, as stated in paragraph 1.20.7 of the Department's 2007-08 resource accounts.

Fire Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to give fire authorities the power to promote well-being.

Sadiq Khan: The power to promote well-being is available to local authorities as defined in Section 1 of the Local Government Act 2000 (LGA 2000). That includes those county councils which are also fire and rescue authorities (FRAs).
	The possible extension of the power to promote well- being contained within Section 2 of LGA 2000 to all FRAs was considered at the request of consultees in 2003 prior to the introduction of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004.
	The power to promote well-being is intended to reflect the unique community leadership role of local authorities and consequently it has not been extended to any other form of authority with responsibility for delivery of public services. For this reason, and because we believe the powers available to FRAs are sufficient to enable them to undertake any activities required to fulfil the duties and responsibilities placed on them by legislation and the national framework for the fire and rescue service, it was not considered appropriate to amend the scope of this power more widely.

First Time Buyers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been allocated to the First Time Buyers Initiative for each of the next three years.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 67-68W.

Freedom of Information

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1106W, on freedom of information, 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the substantive reply given to Freedom of Information Act 2000 request reference: F0002744, on the Church of Scientology, redacting the name and address of the recipient;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the substantive reply given to Freedom of Information Act 2000 request reference: F0002977, on all communications between Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Ministers and senior civil servants at the Department about plans by Canatxx to build a gas storage facility at Preesall from 2005 up to the present date, redacting the name and address of the recipient;
	(3)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the substantive reply given to Freedom of Information Act 2000 request reference: F0002967, on organisations or projects that have received funding to date on the Preventing Extremism Together Initiative, redacting the name and address of the recipient.

Sadiq Khan: I have today placed copies of the responses to these three Freedom of Information requests in the Library.

Housing: Construction

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of new dwellings were built on previously residential land in  (a) England and  (b) each Government Office region in England in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: The percentage, and estimated number, of new dwellings built on previously-residential land in 2007 by region and for England are given in the following table:
	
		
			  New dwellings on previously residential land by Government Office Region 2007 
			   Percentage dwellings on residential land  Estimated dwellings on residential land 
			 North East 14 1,200 
			 North West 22 4,300 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 24 4,100 
			 East Midlands 19 3,500 
			 West Midlands 23 3,300 
			 East of England 29 6,600 
			 London 37 8,300 
			 South East 32 9,800 
			 South West 28 5,700 
			 England 27 47,100

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1117W, on housing: low incomes, what the average cash incentive grant was  (a) in England and  (b) in each region of England in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: This information is not held centrally.

Housing: Low Incomes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of major works voids in social housing in each  (a) region and  (b) local authority area in England.

Iain Wright: The term social housing has been interpreted as social rented dwellings let by local authorities or registered social landlords.
	A table showing the number of vacant dwellings in each region and local authority area undergoing or awaiting works has been placed in the House Library.
	Figures for RSL dwellings that are vacant and awaiting major works are not available at regional or local authority level. However, figures are available showing the number of RSL dwellings which are vacant but unavailable for letting at a local authority and regional level. A table showing these figures has been placed in the House Library. Figures for RSLs are for general needs self-contained units only.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the right to acquire discount limit for each local authority is;
	(2)  what discount was available to tenants under the right to acquire scheme in each local authority area in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The discount available to tenants under the right to acquire scheme in each local authority area is set out in The Housing (Right to Acquire) (Discount) Order 2002 (Statutory Instrument 2002 No 1091). This is available on the website of the Office of Public Sector Administration:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/uksi_20021091_en.pdf
	Between 1997, when the right to acquire scheme was introduced, and 2002, the available discounts were specified annually in the following statutory instruments:
	The Housing (Right to Acquire) (Discount) Order 1998 (SI 1998/2014)
	The Housing (Right to Acquire) (Discount) Order 1999 (SI 1999/1135)
	The Housing (Right to Acquire) (Discount) (Amendment) Order 1999 (SI 1999/3028)
	The Housing (Right to Acquire) (Discount) Order 2000 (SI 2000/1622)
	The Housing (Right to Acquire) (Discount) Order 2001 (SI 2001/1501)
	These are also available on the website of the Office of Public Sector Administration:
	http://search.opsi.gov.uk/search?client=semaphore_front endbtnG=Searchsite=SIoutput=xml_no_dtdproxystylesheet =opsisearch_semaphoreie=UTF8oe=UTF8as_q=right%20to% 20acquire%20discountas_ft=ias_occt=any

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much her Department and its predecessors received in right to buy clawbacks in each year since 1997;
	(2)  over what period a former social tenant is liable for clawback under the right to buy scheme.

Iain Wright: Under section 155 of the Housing Act 1985, social landlords which have sold properties under the right to buy scheme may require former social tenants who have bought properties and choose to dispose of them within five years of the right to buy sale to repay all or part of the discount they received.
	The decision on whether to require repayment rests solely with the landlord. Neither the Department for Communities and Local Government nor any of its predecessor Departments have received any funds as a result of social landlords deciding to require former tenants to repay right to buy discount.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 May 2009,  Official Report, column 245-6W, on housing: low incomes, 
	(1)  what the maximum right to buy discount is in each of the local authorities offering cash incentives for their tenants to leave the social rented sector;
	(2)  how many local authorities which offer cash incentives for social renters to buy a property are in areas where restricted right to buy discounts apply under the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003.

Iain Wright: The information requested is set out in the following table. As reported by local authorities through the 2007-08 Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, the listed local authorities in England provided cash incentive scheme grants, under section 129 of the Housing Act 1988, to assist tenants to acquire an interest in a new home in 2007-08. Grants under section 129 cannot be used for the purpose of assisting local authority tenants buy their existing council home.
	
		
			   
			  Local authority offering cash incentive scheme  Maximum right to buy discount  Changed under Housing (Right to Buy)(Limits on Discount)(Amendment) Order 2003 (previously) 
			 Barnet 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Bournemouth 30,000  
			 Camden 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Carrick (now Cornwall Council) 30,000  
			 Chesterfield 24,000  
			 Croydon 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Dartford 38,000 - 
			 Ealing 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Enfield 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Hackney 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Harrow 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Hillingdon 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Ipswich 34,000  
			 Kingston upon Thames 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Lambeth 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Lewisham 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Mid Devon 30,000  
			 North Cornwall (now Cornwall Council) 30,000  
			 North Hertfordshire 34,000  
			 Norwich 34,000  
			 Purbeck 30,000  
			 Redbridge 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Redditch 26,000  
			 Selby 24,000  
			 South Cambridgeshire 34,000  
			 St. Albans 34,000  
			 Tendring 34,000  
			 Three Rivers 34,000  
			 Tower Hamlets 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Wandsworth 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Warwick 26,000  
			 Watford 16,000 (34,000) 
			 West Somerset 30,000  
			 Westminster 16,000 (38,000) 
			 Woking 38,000  
			 Wycombe 38,000

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the average cost to a registered social landlord of maintaining a home in each age profile in 2008.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 142W.

Housing: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 May 2009,  Official Report, column 127W, on council housing, when the Homes and Communities Agency's review of the benchmarks for high quality urban design, construction and environmental sustainability is expected to be completed.

Iain Wright: The Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) review of standards is planned to culminate in the publication of new HCA Design and Sustainability Standards document in April 2010, in advance of application of the new standards. These new standards will apply to new national housing programmes from April 2011, on completion of the HCA's legacy National Affordable Housing programme (NAHP). Where possible, earlier implementation of the new standards will apply to new housing projects developed on HCA land where HCA is undertaking the role of developer direct.

Judicial Review

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to what  (a) completed judicial review cases and  (b) partial review cases involving a ministerial decision (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies have been a party in the last 36 months; and what the title and outcome of each such case was.

Sadiq Khan: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to page 130 of Budget 2009, what steps she plans to take in respect of local authorities which do not contribute adequately to the 600 million of additional recyclable savings required from local authorities in 2010-11.

John Healey: The local government sector has a strong track record of delivering substantial value for money savings. Authorities are working to go further and are raising their ambition for efficiency. Both central and local government have identified more scope for increased efficiencies which will allow a further one percentage point to be added to the totals savings target in 2010-11 taking it to at least 4 per cent. This will generate an additional 600 million in savings across the sector. This money will be directly recycled within local authorities' budgets to be put towards front line services and keeping council tax down.
	Local authority efficiency will be measured annually by the national indicator for efficiency savings. The new comprehensive area assessment (CAA), introduced on 1 April 2009, will report on performance in each area against all the national indicators. The first CAA reports are expected to be published by the inspectorates in late November 2009.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, column 654W, on domestic waste, what estimate she has made of the effect on the level of performance award grant allocated to local authorities which have been set local area agreement targets in relation to national indicator 191 on residual household waste of such local authorities not meeting those targets.

John Healey: The level of performance reward grant payable will be determined by the average level of performance achieved across all designated targets in the local area agreement, subject to a minimum threshold of 60 per cent. At this stage it is not possible to determine the precise impact on the level of reward payable of a local authority not meeting targets based upon national indicator 191. The impact will depend upon how far short of the target an area's performance on NI 191 has actually fallen at the end of the LAA, how many designated targets were included in the LAA and the level of performance achieved across the other relevant targets.
	Detailed guidance on the reward model has been published at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1148974.pdf

Local Government: Bank Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to amend her Department's  (a) investment advice to local authorities and  (b) procedures for transmitting warnings about the risk profile of investments identified by the Financial Services Authority to local authorities in light of the Icelandic banking collapse.

John Healey: Under the Local Government Act 2003, local authorities are responsible for their own investment decisions. My officials are working with the Audit Commission, CIPFA and the local authority associations to assess how the Department's investment guidance might be refined in light of the report of the Audit Commission on local authorities and Icelandic banks, and the forthcoming report from the CLG Select Committee. The Department's guidance on local government investments is available at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/capital/data/lginvest2.pdf
	The Financial Services Authority have, for good reasons, a policy of not commenting publicly on individual institutions.

Local Government: Elections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's policy is on single member wards in local government.

John Healey: The 2006 Local Government White PaperStrong and prosperous communitiesstated that single member wards offer benefits including providing a simple, strong link between the councillor and their electorate, and giving clarity of leadership to the area, while accepting that there is no consensus on this.
	We have therefore provided a permissive approach in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 that any principal council who holds whole council elections can request that the Electoral Commission directs the Boundary Committee to undertake a review for the purpose of re-warding the area with single member wards.

Local Government: Equal Pay

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the likely effects on local authorities of the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the case of Joyce Slack and others  v . Cumbria county council in relation to equal pay claims in the public sector.

John Healey: Local authorities, in their capacity as employers, are considering the potential implications of the recent court of appeal judgment in Joyce Slack and Ors and Cumbria county council.
	Communities and Local Government continues to monitor the implications of this and similar judgements with the local government employers organisation.

Local Government: Greater Manchester and Leeds

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers the city region pilots will have.

John Healey: Work to identify and agree priorities between the Government and Leeds and Greater Manchester will draw on recent work from the Manchester Independent Economic Review and on innovation in the Leeds city region. Proposals will include new strategy-setting powers over adult skills funding, expected to be in place within three to six months, new joint investment boards with regional development agencies, the Homes and Communities Agency and other partners to co-ordinate and align investment and the piloting of new employment programmes. Further details will be announced in the summer.

Local Government: Inspections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for each local authority to be inspected under the new Comprehensive Area Assessment; and whether authorities with a good or excellent rating under the previous Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime will receive fewer inspections than others.

Sadiq Khan: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and the other local public service inspectorates. I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 12 May 2009:
	Parliamentary Question on what the timetable is for each local authority to be inspected under the new Comprehensive Area Assessment; and whether authorities with a good or excellent rating under the previous Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime will receive fewer inspections than others.
	Your Parliamentary Question on the approach to inspection under the new Comprehensive Area Assessment has been passed to me for reply.
	Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) took effect from 1 April 2009 and the first set of joint inspectorate reports covering each of the 152 local areas with a Local Area Agreement and all local authorities will be published in late 2009. CAA represents a fundamentally different approach to promoting better results for local people and better value for public money.
	The inspections of local authorities' corporate arrangements (known as corporate assessments) used as part of the former Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) framework have ceased. CAA does not require routine programmes of such inspections. Instead, the inspectorates are drawing on existing evidence and the information local authorities and their partners already use to manage their businesses to inform the new area assessment. This focuses on outcomes for local people and therefore for the first time also holds the councils' partners accountable for their contribution.
	Such routine inspection of local authorities as remains relates primarily to specific services for vulnerable people where the inherent risk is high (e.g. Ofsted's new approach to inspecting child protection arrangements and inspections of youth offending teams led by HMI Probations). Any other inspections involving local authorities will only be triggered where a specific risk or concern has been identified. The total cost of inspection work involving local authorities has reduced by a third from 2003/04 to 2008/09.
	The Audit commission will play a new coordinating role for all remaining inspection involving local authorities to ensure that it is risk based and proportionate. Authorities previously assessed as good or excellent (or three or four stars) under CPA, and who are able to demonstrate continued high performance and a strong contribution to positive outcomes for their locality will continue to receive fewer inspections than others.
	I trust this information is helpful.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Maps: EU Law

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps the Valuation Office Agency is taking to comply with the EU INSPIRE Directive.

John Healey: The INSPIRE Directive has limited direct application to the Valuation Office Agency. However, the Agency keeps itself informed about the application of the directive and has had dealings with bodies concerned with the directive, including the UK location council.

Mobile Homes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for establishment of dispute resolution procedures for park home residents.

Iain Wright: The written ministerial statement I have made today announced the Government's intention to transfer the jurisdiction on appeals and applications under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 from county courts to Residential Property Tribunals. It is the intention to bring into force the Residential Property Tribunal's jurisdiction at the earliest opportunity.

National Secular Society

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department has provided funding to the National Secular Society in the last 12 months.

Sadiq Khan: The Department has not provided funding to the National Secular Society.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities will be refunded under the new burdens principle for the cost of rebilling firms which defer 60 per cent. of their business rate increases in 2009.

John Healey: As set out in a Business Rates Information Letter from 31 March 2009, which was provided to all Billing Authorities in England, any net additional costs to local government as a whole arising from the business rates deferral scheme will be fully funded under the new burdens principle.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will use her powers under the Rating (Empty Properties) Act 2007 to reintroduce the pre-April 2008 regime of empty property business rate relief.

John Healey: In the 2008 pre-Budget-report, the Government announced a temporary measure for the 2009-10 business rates year, raising the threshold at which rates on empty property become liable from 2,200 to 15,000. Seventy per cent. of properties have a rateable value below 15,000, and if empty, will benefit from this measure.
	The Government have no current plans to make further changes to empty property rate relief introduced from 1 April 2008. However, as with all taxes, we will keep the position under review. Decisions on taxes are a matter for the Chancellor.

Planning

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable has been set for publication of the final version of her Department's planning policy statement on economic prosperity.

Iain Wright: We expect to publish the final version of Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Prosperous Economies later this year following consultation.

Planning Permission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what areas simplified planning zones have operated; and over what period in each case.

Iain Wright: The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (sections 82-87), amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (section 28), provides for the creation of simplified planning zones (SPZs). Since the powers were taken, we are aware of six SPZs that have been created, two of which remain in existence today. These are listed in the following tables:
	
		
			  SPZs in operation 
			  SPZ  Council  Date 
			 Slough Trading Estate Slough Borough Council From January 1995 to January 2005. On 12 November 2004 Slough Borough Council agreed to a new up-dated version of the SPZ to run for a further 10 years to 2014. 
			 Kings Norton Birmingham City Council From November 1998 to 2017. 
		
	
	
		
			  Other SPZs that have operated in the past 
			  SPZ  Council  Date 
			 Sir Francis Ley Industrial Park Derby City Council From August 1988 to August 1998. 
			 Willowbrook Corby Borough Council From September 1988 to September 1998. 
			 Victoria Park Gedling Borough Council From November 1991 to November 2001. 
			 Knowsley Industrial Park Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Information unavailable. 
		
	
	A new SPZ is proposed in Rochdale.

Planning Permission: Costs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate has been made of the effect of recent changes to the planning appeals system in relation to extending the costs regimes on local authorities' expenditure for paying out cost claims to applicants who make a planning application and are refused but who win on appeal.

Iain Wright: An assessment of the impacts of the guidance in Circular 03/09 'Costs Awards in Appeals and other Planning Proceedings' and the extension of the costs regime to appeals dealt with on the basis of representations in writing can be accessed via the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/impactassessmentcosts
	Parties to an appeal are normally expected to meet their own expenses. Costs will normally be awarded where the following conditions have been met:
	a party has made a timely application for an award of costs;
	the party against whom the award is sought has acted unreasonably; and
	the unreasonable behaviour has caused the party applying for costs to incur unnecessary or wasted expense in the appeal processeither the whole of the expense because it should not have been necessary for the matter to be determined by the Secretary of State or appointed Inspector, or part of the expense because of the manner in which a party has behaved in the process.

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) of 23 April 2009,  Official Report, column 889W, on Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, which public body made each of the 29 bookings; what the date and purpose of each booking was; what rooms were hired on each occasion; and what the aggregate revenue to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre was from those bookings.

Iain Wright: This is an operational matter for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre and I have asked the chief executive of the Agency to respond to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Ernest Vincent, dated 12 May 2009:
	Your Parliamentary question asking the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 23 April 2009, Official Report, column 889W, on Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) Conference Centre, if she will list the public bodies that made each of the 29 bookings; what was the date and purpose of each booking; what rooms were hired on each occasion; and what was the aggregate revenue to the QE2 Conference Centre from those bookings has been passed to me for reply.
	The information you request is listed below and the aggregate revenue from these bookings has been calculated as 766,320.00:
	
		
			   Public bodies  Rooms 
			 22 April 2008 Scheme 2009: Identity Cards for Airport Workers (Identity and Passport Service) Churchill Auditorium and Pickwick Suite 
			 28 April 2008 OSC Info Sharing Day (Department for Children, Schools and Families) Mountbatten Room, Mountbatten Lounge, Keats Room, Robert Burns Room, Shelley Room and Wordsworth Room 
			 19 May 2008 National Pandemic Influenza Workshop (Cabinet Office) Westminster Suite, St. James's Suite, Chaucer Room, Keats Room, Robert Burns Room, Shelley Room, Wesley Room, Wordsworth Room 
			 28 May 2008 Making the Difference: Equality, Diversity and the Fire and Rescue Service (Department for Communities and Local Government) Mountbatten Room and Mountbatten Lounge 
			 11 June 2008 Trust Schools Conference 2008 (Department for Children, Schools and Families) Mountbatten Room and Mountbatten Lounge, Crown Room, Sovereign Room, Wesley Room, Wordsworth Room 
			 15-20 June 2008 Financial Action Taskforce Conference (HM Treasury) Fleming Room, Benjamin Britten Lounge, Guild Room, Caxton West, Chaucer Room, Whittle Room, Churchill Auditorium, Crown Room 
			 26 June 2008 MoJ IT Profession (Ministry of Justice) Mountbatten Room and Mountbatten Lounge, Abbey Room, Elizabeth Windsor Room, Henry Moore Room, Rutherford Room, St. James's Suite, Westminster Suite 
			 2 July 2008 Healthcare for London Stakeholder Event (NHS London) Mountbatten Room and Mountbatten Lounge 
			 16 July 2008 NHS Press Conference (NHS London) Fleming Room and Benjamin Britten Lounge 
			 23 September 2008 SCS Forum (Department of Health) Churchill Auditorium and Pickwick Suite 
			 29 September 2008 D C  L Away Day: Making Connections (Ministry of Justice) Fleming Room and Benjamin Britten Lounge, Whittle Rooms 
			 8 October 2008 NHS Consultants Contract Conference (NHS Employers) Churchill Auditorium and Pickwick Suite, Abbey Room, Elizabeth Windsor Room, Henry Moore Room, Rutherford Room, St. James's Suite 
			 9 October 2008 REACH Role Model Sift Event (Department for Communities and Local Government) Henry Moore Room and Rutherford Room 
			 9 October 2008 Celebrating Success 2008 (Department for Children, Schools and Families) Churchill Auditorium and Pickwick Suite 
			 22 October 2008 DCLG: Collaborative Procurement Forum (Department for Communities and Local Government) Henry Moore Room and Rutherford Room 
			 31 October 2008 Skills for Life Conference 2008Building on Success: Meeting New Challenges (Department for Children, Schools and Families) Fleming Room and Benjamin Britten Lounge, Abbey Room, Byron Room, Chaucer Room, Crown Room, Elizabeth Windsor Room, Guild Room, Henry Moore Room, Keats Room, Robert Burns Room, Rutherford Room, Shelley Room, Sovereign, St. James's Suite, Wesley Room, Westminster Suite, Whittle Room, Wordsworth Room 
			 17 November 2008 Above and Beyond (The British Council) Mountbatten Room and Mountbatten Lounge, Abbey Room, Byron Room, Elizabeth Windsor Room, Henry Moore Room, Rutherford Room, St. James's Suite, Wesley Room, Westminster Suite 
			 7-8 December 2008 NHS Chief Executives Video Conference (Department of Health) Mountbatten Room and Mountbatten Lounge 
			 9 December 2008 PREVENT 08 (Department for Communities and Local Government) Fleming and Whittle Rooms and Benjamin Britten Lounge, Abbey Room, Byron Room, Caxton Lounge, Chaucer Room, Elizabeth Windsor Room, Guild Room, Henry Moore Room, Keats Room, Robert Burns Room, Rutherford Room, Shelley Room, Sovereign Room, St. James's Suite, Wesley Room, Westminster Suite, Wordsworth Room 
			 22 January 2009 GEO SSG Meeting (Government Equalities Office) Henry Moore Room 
			 28 January 2009 UKBA Senior Manager's Event (Home Office) Fleming Room and Benjamin Britten Lounge, Crown Room, Guild Room 
			 5 February 2009 Local Involvement Networks (Links) 'Getting Better Together Conference' (Department of Health) Fleming and Benjamin Britten Lounge, Abbey Room, Henry Moore Room, Rutherford Room, St. James's Suite, Wesley Room 
			 9 February 2009 UK Border Agency: Assisted Voluntary Returns Seminar (Home Office) Mountbatten Room and Mountbatten Lounge, Wesley Room, Wordsworth Room 
			 10 February 2009 HPV Implementation Immunisation Programme National Conference (Department of Health) Mountbatten Room and Mountbatten Lounge 
			 26 February 2009 Information about Children, Education and Schools Conference (Department for Children, Schools and Families) Fleming Room and Benjamin Britten Lounge, Abbey Room, Henry Moore Room, Rutherford Room 
			 20 March 2009 RC (S) Senior Officials Meeting (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) Whittle Room and Caxton Lounge 
			 23-24 March 2009 FCO Leadership Conference 2009 (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) Fleming Room and Benjamin Britten Lounge, Caxton Lounge, St. James's Suite, Westminster Suite, Whittle Room, Fleet Room, Guild Room 
			 24 March 2009 Home Office Senior Civil Service Conference (Home Office) Churchill Auditorium and Pickwick Suite, Sovereign Room 
			 20 March 2009 Care Quality Commission 'Kick Off' Event (COI) Churchill Auditorium and Pickwick Suite, Abbey Room, Henry Moore Room, Shelley Room, St. James's Suite, Westminster Suite 
		
	
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2009,  Official Report, column 889W, on the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, what the title was of each conference held at the centre by Central Government Departments was; which Department sponsored each event; and how much was charged for each event.

Iain Wright: This is an operational matter for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre and I have asked the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Ernest Vincent, dated 12 May 2009:
	Your Parliamentary question asking the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2009, Official Report, column 889W, on Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, what the title of each conference held at the centre by central government department was; which Department sponsored each event; and how much was charged for each event has been passed to me for reply.
	As has been stated in the reply to the Answer of 23 April 2009, the policy of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre is not to offer discounted rates. Complimentary room hire is offered on very rare occasions and only with my authorisation. There also must be good reason to do so. The meetings below were, bar one, charged at the standard list price. The amounts below are exclusive of VAT.
	
		
			  Date  Conference  Department  Cost () 
			 22 April 2008 Scheme 2009: Identity Cards for Airport Workers Identity and Passport Service 10,230.00 
			 28 April 2008 OSC Info Sharing Day Department for Children, Schools and Families 12,502.50 
			 19 May 2008 National Pandemic Influenza Workshop Cabinet Office 7,345.00 
			 28 May 2008 Making the Difference: Equality, Diversity and the Fire and Rescue Service Department for Communities and Local Government 7,485.00 
			 11 June 2008 Trust Schools Conference 2008 Department for Children, Schools and Families 9,505.00 
			 15-20 June 2008 Financial Action Taskforce Conference HM Treasury 84,485.00 
			 26 June 2008 MoJ IT Profession Ministry of Justice 15,020.00 
			 2 July 2008 Healthcare for London Stakeholder Event NHS London 8,685.00 
			 16 July 2008 NHS Press Conference NHS London 13,545.00 
			 23 September 2008 SCS Forum Department of Health 9,645.00 
			 29 September 2008 D C  L Away Day: Making Connections Ministry of Justice 17,815.00 
			 8 October 2008 NHS Consultants Contract Conference NHS Employers 15,788.50 
			 9 October 2008 REACH Role Model Sift Event Department for Communities and Local Government 2,090.00 
			 9 October 2008 Celebrating Success 2008 Department for Children, Schools and Families 11,805.00 
			 22 October 2008 DCLG: Collaborative Procurement Forum Department for Communities and Local Government Chief Executive's invitation to DCLG colleagues to use QEII Conference Centre for a discussion about collaborative procurement 
			 31 October 2008 Skills for Life Conference 2008 Department for Children, Schools and Families 30,815.00 
			 17 November 2008 Above and Beyond The British Council 16,616.00 
			 7 December 2008 NHS Chief Executives Video Conference Department of Health 12,930.00 
			 9 December 2008 PREVENT 08 Department for Communities and Local Government 30,710.00 
			 22 January 2009 GEO SSG Meeting Government Equalities Office 1,005.00 
			 28 January 2009 UKBA Senior Manager's Event Home Office 12,775.00 
			 5 February 2009 Local Involvement Networks (Links) 'Getting Better Together Conference' Department of Health 15,740.00 
			 9 February 2009 UK Border Agency: Assisted Voluntary Returns Seminar Home Office 8,745.00 
			 10 February 2009 HPV Implementation Immunisation Programme National Conference Department of Health 6,885.00 
			 26 February 2009 Information about Children, Education and Schools Conference Department for Children, Schools and Families 16,335.00 
			 20 March 2009 RC (S) Senior Officials Meeting Foreign  Commonwealth Office 7,515.00 
			 23-24 March 2009 FCO Leadership Conference 2009 Foreign  Commonwealth Office 43,700.00 
			 24 March 09 Home Office Senior Civil Service Conference Home Office 9,850.00 
			 19-21 April 2009 Care Quality Commission 'Kick Off' Event COI 45,447.50 
		
	
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Recreation Spaces

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what support her Department provides to local authorities to assist them in discharging responsibilities to provide, manage and maintain parks, recreation grounds and other open spaces; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Public parks and green spaces are primarily funded through revenue support grant provided by Communities and Local Government. Central Government do not prescribe how much should be spent by each local authority on their open spaces; this is a matter for them to determine in line with local priorities.
	Communities and Local Government also funds CABE Space, the Government adviser on public space issues, to provide support to all local authorities through advisory services, good practice guidance, campaigns and training. They also help to tackle the retention and recruitment problems that the sector is experiencing and improve the skills mix at the local level; continue to build a supportive evidence base for investment in parks and open spaces; and engage communities in improving their local green spaces.

Unitary Councils

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's latest estimate is of the cost of unitary restructuring in the areas which have new unitary councils.

John Healey: When seeking parliamentary approval for the nine new unitary councils, we estimated transitional restructuring costs of around 138 million, with total annual savings of at least 100 million. Our latest estimates, following a stocktake exercise we with the support of independent financial experts have undertaken prior to 1 April 2009, are for the restructuring costs to be around 135 million, slightly less than the original estimate.

Unitary Councils: Freedom of Information

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which bodies will hold the records of local authorities which have been replaced under unitary restructuring for Freedom of Information Act 2000 purposes.

John Healey: The Local Government (Structural Changes)(Transfer of Functions, Property, Rights and Liabilities) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/2176) require that where predecessor councils are succeeded by one unitary council, property, rights and liabilities which would include records transfer to the successor council. Where two new unitary councils have been formed in a former county area, the regulations require that the records of the predecessor district councils transfer to the relevant new unitary and those of the predecessor county council transfer to one or other of the new unitary councils as agreed between them. The regulations also require that where there are two successor councils, the one holding the records must make them available to the other.

JUSTICE

Ashwell Prison

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the findings of the Prison Service investigation into the disturbance at HM Prison Ashwell on 11 April 2009.

David Hanson: As I made clear to the House in my written ministerial statement on 20 April 2009, and in subsequent answers to parliamentary questions, I will make the findings of the investigation and our conclusions on it available to the House in due course.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) officials of his Department accompanied him to Glasgow for the Cabinet meeting on 16 April 2009;
	(2)  what car journeys he undertook in attending the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009;
	(3)  how much expenditure was incurred by his Department in respect of the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009;
	(4)  what expenditure on  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) food (i) he and (ii) officials in his Department incurred in connection with the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Jack Straw: I was not accompanied by officials or by special advisers when I attended the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.
	I travelled by car between Ambleside, Cumbria and Oxenholme station and between Glasgow Central station and the venue for the Cabinet meeting.
	132 was incurred for my return travel by train from Oxenholme station to Glasgow Central station. My transport by car to and from Oxenholme station and between Glasgow Central station and the Cabinet venue was provided by the Metropolitan police, the cost of which is a matter for them.
	There was no departmental expenditure on accommodation or food and no officials from the Ministry of Justice attended the meeting.

Children: Protection

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to issue child protection proceedings.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Local authorities have a clear statutory duty under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 to investigate where they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Where as a result of that investigation they conclude they should take action to safeguard and promote the child's welfare by for example applying for a care order, they must take that action. It is for individual authorities to decide when to initiate care proceedings under section 31 of Children Act 1989 when a child is at risk in their own home.

Children: Protection

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many child protection cases were heard by the family court in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008.

Bridget Prentice: The following table shows the number of care, supervision and emergency protection order applications made to the family courts in England and Wales during the specified years.
	
		
			  Number of (a) care applications (b) supervision applications and (c) emergency protection order applications in the England and Wales family courts, 2005-08 
			  Application type  2005  2006  2007  2008( 1) 
			 Care applications 13,498 13,421 13,717 12,089 
			 Supervision applications 897 938 1,069 624 
			 Emergency protection order applications 2,736 1,676 1,459 1,722 
			 (1) Provisional  Notes: 1. 2005-07 data cover all tiers of court, and are as published in the annual Ministry of Justice reports 'Judicial and Court Statistics'. 2. 2008 data exclude applications made to the High Court (which typically account for around 3 per cent. of all child protection applications) and should be treated as provisional. Final figures will be published in 'Judicial and Court Statistics 2008' later in the year. 3. Figures relate to the number of children subject to each application. On this basis, an application relating to two children will be counted twice. 4. Figures for Family Proceedings Courts prior to April 2007 are likely to be an undercount. A new method of data collection was introduced in April 2007 which has improved the coverage and completeness of data. Any comparison with figures prior to April 2007 may be affected by the improved data recording.  Source: HM Courts Service case management systems 
		
	
	An application will not necessarily result in a full court hearing in every case, as the application can be withdrawn or the proceedings otherwise discontinued before this stage is reached. It should also be noted that an application of one type can result in an order of a different type being made by the court.

Departmental ICT

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he has taken to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions arising from the operation of ICT systems in his Department under the Greening Government ICT Strategy.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice is committed to reducing its carbon emissions in accordance with the campaign initiated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Greening Government ICT Strategy. The MOJ recognises that reducing its ICT carbon emissions is not just about technology but also about embedding sustainability in its process and behaviour as well.
	The MOJ has worked to implement the appropriate 'Areas for ICT Carbon Reduction' in the Greening Government ICT Strategy improving the sustainability of its printing, the energy efficiency of its desktop PCs and data centres.
	The MOJ has built sustainable IT principles into its IT policy and consideration of sustainability forms part of process of evaluation of changes to the IT estate. The MOJ is working with its suppliers to improve the energy efficiency of IT operations both in its outsourced data centres and at its own sites. It has employed third party expertise to analyse the sustainability of IT operations managed by a sample of the MOJ's key suppliers and advise on how best to realise improvements. This work has already led to increased data centre energy efficiency, and work on the centralisation of data processing will further reduce server energy consumption without negative effect on the volume or efficiency of data processing carried out. The convergence of formerly separate networks offers better sharing of IT resources for staff and the reduction of the overall number of devices we need to deliver the same level of service.
	The MOJ has also used initiatives to realise the positive impact that ICT can have on the overall carbon emissions of its operations. It continues to invest in video-conferencing and teleconferencing technology to reduce emissions. The imminent upgrade of desktop PCs will offer not just improved power management to reduce energy consumption but also roaming profiles allowing any users to log on to any machine helping support MOJ estates' goal of 80 per cent. desking and a reduction in the overall size of the MOJ HQ estate.
	MOJ is also working on staff awareness of green IT issues. Campaigns have been run encouraging the shut down of electrical items outside of office hours, the reduction of printing and paper consumption and the better use of video-conferencing and teleconferencing to reduce travel.

Elections: Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many successful prosecutions there were for offences of electoral fraud arising from elections held in 2008.

Michael Wills: The report recently published by the Electoral Commission and the Association of Chief Police Officers entitled Allegations of electoral malpractice at the May 2008 elections in England and Wales found that the police had recorded 103 cases of electoral malpractice at those elections. Eighty-one per cent. of the cases required no further action by the police. One case has led to a prosecution, which resulted in a conviction of one person on a charge of making a false application to vote by proxy. Nine cases resulted in formal cautions which may lead to criminal records, with 12 cases under investigation or awaiting advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
	These figures must be seen in the context of over 16 million votes cast at the local elections in England and Wales in May 2008 in nearly 4,000 separate elections involving over 13,500 candidates.
	The report is consistent with earlier findings that the scale and volume of allegations of fraud at recent elections have been decreasing.

Extradition: Legal Aid

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what expenditure his Department has incurred on the provision of legal aid for cases involving extradition to the United States in each of the last five years.

Shahid Malik: Neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Legal Services Commission records extradition cases centrally in terms of the country that is requesting extradition. The information requested could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Judiciary: Ethnic Groups

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many black and minority ethnic people were appointed to the judiciary in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: Following the question tabled in February on appointments, we are in the process of cleansing our data. This has yet to be completed, so I regret that I am unable to respond at this time. I will write with further information in due course, and ensure copies of this information are made available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Judiciary: Ethnic Groups

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of applications to become a member of the judiciary were from black and minority ethnic candidates in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: We have not been able to provide all the information in the time requested, but are working to provide it. I will write with further information in the near future, and ensure copies of this information are made available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Legal Profession: Chinese Community

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria are applied to the selection of applicants to participate in the Lord Chancellor's Training scheme for young Chinese Lawyers; and if he will consider the merits of increasing the number of places available under the scheme each year.

Michael Wills: Applicants to the Lord Chancellor's Training scheme for young Chinese Lawyers must:
	be Chinese nationals aged between 25 and 40 on the application closing date;
	be graduates of law who have passed the national lawyers' examination in China and have at least two years' post-qualification experience in a law firm in China;
	have excellent written and oral English demonstrated by an overall score of 6.5 or over in the International English Language Testing System test (IELTS), ideally with a score of 6.0 or over in every test;
	have specialist experience in one or more areas of legal practice of significance to China's development as a market economy and have strong personal motivation and an ability to adapt to different environments.
	From past experience it has also been found desirable that the 15 successful lawyers:
	represent a gender balance between males and females;
	represent a wide variety of Chinese regions;
	be working for Chinese law firms;
	be experienced in commercial areas of law;
	have a strong interest and perhaps some experience in international work;
	be willing and keen to contribute to the development of the Chinese Justice system upon their return;
	have excellent communication skills;
	be highly motivated to learn, have a positive attitude, and be an excellent team player; and
	be capable of resolving ethical dilemmas.
	The Ministry of Justice has committed to fund the scheme until 2011. We will review the scheme in due course, using a set of criteria which is likely to focus on value for money, impact, achievements, and fit with our departmental strategic objectives. We will also need to consider the public sector's fiscal restraints at that time. I am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate therefore that I cannot comment on the merits of increasing the number of places available until the review has been concluded.

Life Imprisonment

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving whole life tariffs are held in each Category A prison.

David Hanson: The break-down for prisoners on whole life tariffs in high security prisons is as follows:
	
		
			  High security prison  Number of prisoners 
			 Belmarsh 0 
			 Frankland 8 
			 Full Sutton 5 
			 Long Lartin (1)Fewer than 5 
			 Manchester 0 
			 Wakefield 11 
			 Whitemoor (1)Fewer than 5 
			 Woodhill 0 
			 (1 )We have withheld exact numbers because to provide the information at this level could identify individuals.

Life Imprisonment: Females

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many female prisoners are serving life sentences with a whole life tariff.

David Hanson: Fewer than five(1) female prisoners are currently serving a life sentence with a whole life tariff.
	(1 )We have withheld exact numbers because to provide the information at this level could identify individuals.

Life Imprisonment: Mentally Disturbed Offenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners sentenced to whole life tariffs are held in secure NHS premises.

David Hanson: Fewer than five(1) prisoners sentenced to whole life tariffs are currently detained in secure hospitals.
	(1 )We have withheld exact numbers because to provide the information at this level could identify individuals.

National Offender Management Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff  (a) employed in and  (b) seconded to the Interventions and Substance Abuse Group of the National Offender Management Service have previously worked for (i) the probation service and (ii) the Prison Service.

David Hanson: Of staff currently in post in the National Offender Management Service's Interventions and Substance Misuse Group (ISMG):
	(i) 15 have a national probation service background;
	(ii) 125 have a HM Prison Service background; and
	(iii) Seven have previously worked in both HM Prison Service and the national probation service.
	Nine current ISMG staff are seconded from the national probation service.

Prison Accommodation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for how many hours per week on average high security prisoners have been confined to their cells  (a) in the latest period for which figures are available and  (b) over a similar period immediately before the introduction of core day standardisation.

David Hanson: Prisoners in the High Security Estate are locked in their cells for an average of 109 hours a week. Prior to the introduction of the Standard Core Day prisoners were locked in their cells for an average of 107 hours a week. After the introduction of the Standard Core Day across the Prison Service prisoners in the High Security Estate spend an extra two hours a week, or 1 per cent. of their time, locked up.
	The Prison Service has looked carefully at how it can make efficiencies in the operation of prisons to support the Department's efficiency plans. The standardisation of the core day delivers efficiencies, improves consistency of regime delivery across the affected establishments and helps to maximise the access prisoners have to activities when they are running without compromising the running of safe, decent and secure establishments.

Prison Sentences

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) men and  (b) women aged (i) under 18 years, (ii) 18 to 20 years and (iii) 21 years and over were serving indeterminate sentences for public protection on the latest date for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The following table gives the numbers of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection on 24 April 2009. The table includes those subject to imprisonment for public protection (IPP) and young prisoners subject to detention for public protection (DPP). The table also includes the 104 offenders of this type who are located in a secure psychiatric hospital.
	
		
			  Serving IPPs and DPPs on 24 April 2009 
			  Age range  (a) Men  (b) Women  Subtotals 
			 (i) Under 18 years 35 (1)Fewer than 5 36 
			 (ii) 18 to 20 years 370 (1)Fewer than 5 372 
			 (iii) 21 years and over 4,696 142 4,838 
			 Total   5,246 
			 (1 )We have withheld exact numbers because to provide the information at this level could identify individuals. 
		
	
	These figures were drawn from the NOMS IPP database. The database is updated every other month, based on data provided by establishments. As with any large scale recording system, the database is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Changes introduced by the CJIA 2008 included a minimum tariff of two years below which IPPs cannot be given, except where offenders have committed extremely serious crimes in the past.
	These changes will ensure better use of the all the sentences available to the courts.
	In January 2008, a new streamlined process was introduced for assessing and managing IPP offenders through the implementation of offender management for IPPs. The new process will ensure that appropriate sentence plans are drawn up and implemented for offenders, without undermining public protection.

Prison Sentences: Swine Flu

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects of the outbreak of swine influenza on  (a) levels of sentencing to custody by magistrates courts and Crown courts and  (b) the safe management of adult prisons, young offender institutions and secure training centres;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the outbreak of swine influenza on the provision of healthcare in  (a) adult prisons,  (b) young offender institutions and  (c) secure training centres.

Jack Straw: Contingency planning for coping with the effects of a flu pandemic on the justice system including prisons and places of detention, has been underway for several years. Sentencing will continue to be a matter for judges taking account of individual circumstances and sentencing guidelines.
	Protecting the public and ensuring the smooth running of the justice system is paramount and every effort would be made to ensure those who pose a risk continue to be appropriately dealt with.
	In 2006, all prisons were instructed, through Prison Service Instruction PSI (29/2006), to develop contingencies plans in the event of pandemic influenza. Prison senior clinical staff were to be involved at all stages of planning. The plans were to be signed off as fit for purpose by area managers. The governor was required to establish links with the local health protection unit (HPU) and the primary care trust (PCT) to finalise arrangements for antiviral access and infection control management, and to adapt local community policies to a prison setting.
	At the outset of this swine flu outbreak governors were reminded to review these plans and ensure they are up to date and capable of being acted on if the situation calls for it. This is to be done in consultation with local primary care trusts and in line with the current PSI.
	A revised version of the Prison Service Instruction is currently in draft. It provides further advice on key areas including infection control, UK pandemic phases, detail on key issues to be covered in contingency plans including supply lines and participation in local resilience fora, along with advice on human resources matters.

Prisons: Education

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on prisoner re-education in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

David Hanson: In terms of money spent on education and training in prisons for those two years, 156 million was spent in financial year 2006-07 and 168 million was spent in financial year 2007-08, funded from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills via provider contracts commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council. Spending on offender learning, commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council, now stands at over 175 million (2008-09 financial year), for juvenile, young and adult offendersalmost a threefold increase since 2001.
	The Learning and Skills Council also spent a further 30 million in European Social Funding for the two calendar years 2006 and 2007, and established a 13.9 million budget from EQUAL funding for the period December 2006 to March 2008 to meet additional provision for offenders both in custody and in the community.
	In addition training for prisoners is undertaken, mainly by Prison Service staff, whilst prisoners work or are engaged in various areas such as prison industries, catering, physical education, land based activities, industrial cleaning and laundries. The central costs of the training elements of these, mainly production functions, are not kept centrally.

Probation: Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many probation posts are planned for  (a) Dyfed Powys,  (b) Gwent,  (c) North Wales and  (d) South Wales probation areas in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

David Hanson: It is not yet possible to predict final figures for 2009-10. As no final decisions have been taken on budgets for subsequent years, it is also not possible to provide accurate staffing projections for 2010-11 and 2011-12.
	Responsibility for resourcing levels ultimately lies with each probation board or trust as they are the employers of probation staff. It is for them to take the action necessary at a local level to ensure they can deliver the required service within available resources.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan and Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel serving in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq are residents of (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the Republic of Ireland.

Bob Ainsworth: Data on the residential location of armed forces personnel are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel from each of the armed forces are serving in Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of UK service personnel in Afghanistan fluctuates on a daily basis but there are currently approximately 8,300 UK service personnel serving in Afghanistan. Due to the current deployment of 19 Light Brigade approximately 80 per cent. of these personnel are from the Army and approximately 10 per cent. each from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force respectively.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward plans to improve liaison between his Department and the Department for International Development on reconstruction in Afghanistan.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 May 2009
	Ministers and Officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Department for International Development (DFID), and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) meet regularly to discuss the UK's policy in Afghanistan. This cooperation is replicated on the ground by the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team which integrates the efforts of DFID, the FCO and the military Task Force Commander, with international partners, in a comprehensive approach to security, reconstruction and development.

Armed Forces: Coroners

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome of his Department's challenge was to the inquest verdict in the case of Ronald George Maddison which the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State announced in the written ministerial statement of 21 December 2004,  Official Report, column 168WS; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The Judicial Review was scheduled to take place on 13 February 2006 in the High Court. However before the hearing was due to commence, Counsel representing the Maddison family offered a possible resolution of the issues to be addressed, which the Ministry of Defence found acceptable. The presiding judges, set to hear the Judicial Review, endorsed the terms of the agreement. This therefore concluded matters.

Armed Forces: Housing

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of  (a) service family accommodation and  (b) service single living accommodation for armed forces personnel in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of  (a) service family accommodation and  (b) service single living accommodation properties in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland there were in each grade in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: UK service family accommodation was at the following standard for condition (SfC) in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   April 2004  April 2005  April 2006  April 2007  July 2008 
			   Properties  Percentage  Properties  Percentage  Properties  Percentage  Properties  Percentage  Properties  Percentage 
			 S1fC 25,276 50 26,426 53 28,796 57 29,691 59 28,354 59 
			 S2fC 22,215 44 20,774 41 18,950 38 17,910 36 17,414 36 
			 S3fC 3,083 6 2,792 6 2,309 5 2,165 5 2,098 4 
			 S4fC 146 [le]1 195 [le]1 159 [le]1 145 [le]1 109 1 
			 Total 50,720  50,187  50,214  49,911  47,975  
		
	
	Figures for Scotland across the last five years are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, as at March 2009, SFA in Scotland was at the following SfC:
	
		
			   Properties  Percentage 
			 S1fC 3,120 97 
			 S2fC 102 3 
			 S3fC 5 [le]1 
		
	
	In the past two years, single living accommodation, in the UK and Scotland was at the following grade, which is an assessment of the physical condition and scale of the accommodation, but excludes environmental and locational factors.
	
		
			   July 2007  March 2008 
			   UK  Scotland  UK  Scotland 
			   Bed-spaces  Percentage  Bed-spaces  Percentage  Bed-spaces  Percentage  Bed-spaces  Percentage 
			 Grade 1 35,388 26 2,553 32 34320 25 2,580 33 
			 Grade 2 17,398 13 1,576 20 19,180 14 1,560 20 
			 Grade 3 23,346 17 1,691 21 21,460 16 1,680 21 
			 Grade 4 62,212 44 2,128 27 62,460 45 2,010 26 
			 Total 138,344  7,948  137,420  7,830  
		
	
	Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Due to a legacy of decades of underinvestment, in Scotland and elsewhere, not all service accommodation is of the high standard that service personnel and their families deserve. We are addressing this and in addition to the significant investment in recent years, we plan to spend over 3 billion in the next decade to improve and upgrade accommodation worldwide.

Armed Forces: Housing

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on upgrading accommodation for serving personnel and their families in  (a) the UK and  (b) Scotland since 2000.

Kevan Jones: I will write to the right hon. and learned Member with the information requested because it is not held centrally and will take more time to collate and verify.

Armed Forces: Housing

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) single living accommodation and  (b) service family accommodation properties in Scotland have been declared unfit for habitation.

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) single living accommodation and  (b) service family accommodation properties in the UK have been declared unfit for habitation.

Kevan Jones: While all occupied properties are considered to be of a habitable standard, properties can be uninhabitable for various reasons, such as awaiting demolition or undergoing major repair, modernisation or upgrade work.
	The situation changes frequently and therefore detailed numbers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to review the functions of the war pension committees.

Kevan Jones: A review of the war pensions committees is currently underway. The review is being conducted in consultation with the committees and other stakeholders and an initial symposium was held on 25 March 2009.

Armed Forces: Resignations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the voluntary outflow rate from each  (a) service and  (b) rank of the armed forces was in each of the last three years.

Kevan Jones: The voluntary outflow rates of officers and of other ranks from each service are published in tables 3-8 of Tri-Service Publication 05 (TSP05). TSP05 is published monthly; the current March 2009 publication includes time series back to 1998-99 and can be found at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48thiscontent=60date=2009-04-20pubType=lPublishTime=09:30:00from=hometabOption=l
	Voluntary outflow rates for each rank have not been compiled and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Copies of TSP05 are also available from the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Swine Flu

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what preparations his Department is making to ensure that sufficient military forces are available to participate in civil contingency operations in relation to the swine influenza outbreak.

Bob Ainsworth: The UK's preparations are led by the Department of Health, involving all relevant Government Departments and agencies including the MOD. There are currently no plans for military involvement in civil contingency operations in relation to the swine influenza outbreak.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were enrolled in an officer training corps course at each university in each year since 1997.

Kevan Jones: The following table illustrates the numbers commencing training at university officer training corps in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Aberdeen 65 72 51 67 80 49 53 82 64 82 65 45 
			 Birmingham 78 66 69 103 75 46 87 82 78 100 98 64 
			 Bristol 73 77 82 74 83 72 86 87 64 83 79 50 
			 Cambridge 98 95 102 66 82 107 84 72 91 81 78 53 
			 East Midlands 93 72 75 97 83 91 76 80 94 88 70 41 
			 Edinburgh 92 67 50 51 82 82 63 91 71 85 100 68 
			 Exeter 88 76 86 78 80 80 122 83 102 92 77 53 
			 Glasgow 58 49 65 62 60 93 73 62 62 78 62 48 
			 Leeds 74 71 60 66 94 97 114 115 82 110 87 72 
			 Liverpool 83 79 73 87 85 83 98 91 89 88 76 49 
			 London 161 156 152 193 201 181 183 141 173 162 200 154 
			 Manchester 78 79 72 85 75 75 73 76 81 106 75 38 
			 Northumbria 70 67 66 75 84 97 88 91 73 78 86 52 
			 Oxford 84 98 81 80 78 105 102 110 131 117 101 94 
			 Queen's (Northern Ireland) 95 61 67 79 63 62 50 38 44 80 46 43 
			 Sheffield 85 96 83 112 98 77 139 104 83 93 117 63 
			 Southampton 81 60 63 110 107 103 113 105 93 117 86 45 
			 Tayforth 76 62 52 115 100 89 125 98 100 113 80 73 
			 Wales 86 85 106 93 98 93 101 119 104 114 98 62

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the cost of the Defence Training Review contract over the next five financial years.

Bob Ainsworth: The most recent estimate of the cost of the Defence Training Review (DTR) contract over the next five financial years, after expected contract signature in 2010, is 1.8 billion. It should be noted that the vast majority of this figure represents the operating costs that we carry today within the existing training establishment.

Army: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required,  (b) actual and  (c) fit for duty strengths of each regiment of the (i) Royal Armoured Corps, (ii) Royal Corps of Signals, (iii) Royal Engineers and (iv) Royal Logistics Corps is.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Clyde Submarine Base

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Faslane primary effluent barge to return to service; and what plans he has for its replacement in the long-term.

Quentin Davies: The primary effluent barge was retired in February 2008 and will not be returned to service.
	Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde is currently undertaking a future waste management options study to determine the long-term plans for radioactive waste management. Primary effluent tanks will continue to collect liquid waste in the interim.

Clyde Submarine Base

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for a new facility to handle radioactive waste at Faslane.

Quentin Davies: Work is currently being undertaken to determine the future waste management plans at Faslane, the results of which will inform the design and development of a new capability.

Clyde Submarine Base

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) procedures and  (b) protocols will apply to the discharge of radioactive coolant from submarines at the new Astute jetty.

Quentin Davies: The procedures and protocols for the discharge of radioactive coolant from submarines at the new Astute jetty will be similar to those in place for current berths. Primary effluent tanks will be used for the discharge of radioactive liquid effluent, a process that is regulated and inspected by both the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator.

Defence: Employment

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in  (a) Devon and  (b) Cornwall are employed in the defence sector.

Kevan Jones: The latest available figures for the numbers of MOD civilian and service personnel who are directly employed at MOD establishments or bases located in Devon, Cornwall and the unitary authority of Plymouth are provided in the following table.
	
		
			   All MOD service personnel  MOD civilian personnel  Total 
			 South West 38,880 17,600 56,480 
			  Of which:
			 Plymouth 7,380 1,200 8,580 
			 Devon 4,120 410 4,530 
			 Cornwall 3,650 630 4,280 
		
	
	The Ministry of Defence does not produce estimates at county or unitary authority level for the number of people employed in UK industry and commerce in companies that receive contracts directly from MOD or in the supply chain supporting such contracts.

Defence: Employment

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in the South West of England work in the defence sector.

Kevan Jones: The latest available estimate for those people employed directly in industry and commerce in the South West of England in those companies that receive contracts directly from MOD is approximately 37,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
	It is not possible to prepare estimates for indirect employment due to the quality of the underlying administrative data, so this could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	In addition a further 17,600 civilian and 38,880 service personnel are directly employed at MOD establishments or bases located in the South West.

Defence: Information and Communications Technology

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) target and  (b) actual number of terminal installations completed for the Defence Information Infrastructure programme is.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence intends to design, install and run 140,000 terminals on the Defence Information Infrastructure system, supporting some 300,000 users at more than 2,000 sites. As at 30 April 2009, some 70,000 terminals had been installed.

Defence: Procurement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) original forecast in-service date at main gate and  (b) actual in-service date of each post-main gate Category (i) A, (ii) B and (iii) C procurement project was in each of the last two years.

Quentin Davies: The following table gives the actual in-service date for category A, B and C post main gate projects in each of the last two financial years for which results have been published together with the originally forecast in-service date at main gate:
	
		
			  In service date forecast at main gate  Actual in service date  Category  Project title 
			 June 2006 April 2006 B General health and usage monitoring system 
			 October 2007 May 2006 C JACAMARSecure radio system 
			 December 2002 June 2006 A Sting Ray Life Extension and Capability Upgrade 
			 July 2004 July 2006 A Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) 
			 July 2006 September 2006 B Javelin Follow-On Buy 
			 October 2006 September 2006 C Chinook Coherence 
			 October 2005 October 2006 B TROJAN and TITAN 
			 March 2006 October 2006 C Thermal Sighting System for the Self Propelled High Velocity Missile Weapon System 
			 July 2002 January 2007 C Saturn for Lynx Mk8 
			 March 2007 March 2007 B Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System 
			 March 2007 March 2007 B Royal Navy Joint Tactical Information Distribution System 
			 July 2006 March 2007 C Future fire control system 
			 December 2007 June 2007 C Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corp (ARRC)Command and Control Information System 
			 September 2007 July 2007 A PICASSO 
			 August 2008 September 2007 C Dismounted Counter Mine Capability 
			 November 2006 November 2007 B PANTHER Command and Liaison Vehicle (CLV) 
			 May 2008 January 2008 B Defence HF Communications Service 
			 January 2008 January 2008 B High Velocity Missile Procurement (Tranche 4) 
			 August 2006 February 2008 C Fire Control Battlefield Information Systems Application 
			 September 2005 February 2008 A Support Vehicle 
			 May 2008 March 2008 C Tomahawk Block IV Weapon System

Departmental Buildings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on building maintenance in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The diverse defence estate includes office, technical and living accommodation. Building maintenance is covered by a number of contractual arrangements both in the UK and overseas, including a number of private finance initiatives (PFI). For these reasons, the cost of building maintenance as distinct from such things as the maintenance of runways and other elements of the estate, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The MOD's annual accounts include property management costs, which are mostly maintenance but exclude those falling under PFI arrangements.
	These figures are provided in the following table.
	
		
			million 
			 2003-04 1,393 
			 2004-05 1,509 
			 2005-06 1,367 
			 2006-07 1,258 
			 2007-08 1,523 
		
	
	The final figures for 2008-09 are currently being prepared and are subject to audit by the National Audit Office.

Departmental Consultants

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on external consultants for services delivered in 2008-09.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not yet verified but is intended for future publication and will be placed in the Library of the House before the summer recess, as is our usual practice.

Departmental Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure his Department follows for dealing with complaints received  (a) by e-mail,  (b) by post,  (c) by telephone and  (d) via his Department's website.

Kevan Jones: The MOD's complaints handling policy is based on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's publication Principles of Good Complaint Handling and covers all complaints irrespective of how they are received. There are separate and published points of contact for complaints about specific activities, for example pensions or low flying, and our experience is that complaints are most effectively handled at the initial point of contact. Our policy sets out how complaints should be handled and, should it be necessary, explains how an internal review should be offered and conducted. Finally, we offer independent internal reviews and will explain to the complainant how they are able to take their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on  (a) conference services and  (b) banqueting services in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on conference and banqueting services must be necessary, appropriate, cost effective and an admissible charge to public funds.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on entertainment and hospitality in the last two financial years.

Kevan Jones: The MOD spent 4.2 million on entertainment in 2007-08. The information for 2008-09 is intended for future publication in our annual report and accounts before the summer recess, as is our usual practice.
	The aim of official entertainment is to support MOD objectives, facilitate wider public understanding of the armed forces, enhance professional contacts, further British security policy interests and meet defence diplomacy objectives. Official entertainment may be used to support management objectives or enhance esprit de corps.

European Fighter Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent assessment is of progress in the ordering of Tranche 3 Eurofighter Typhoons.

Quentin Davies: Negotiations with partner nations and industry are continuing on the Typhoon Tranche 3 contract and decisions will be taken once these negotiations are complete.

Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an estimate of the number of British veterans of the Korean War who have not received each medal for military service in that war for which they are eligible.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, column 927W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what the established procedures for the gifting of equipment to Iraq are.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 888W, to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth).

Israel: Military Aid

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much aid was given to Israel for military purposes between 1997 and 2008.

John Hutton: MOD gave no aid to Israel for military purposes between 1997 and 2008. We do, however, offer places on defence education courses which are paid for by Israel on an attendance basis. Our defence relationship with Israel is in line with HMG's policy in support of the Middle East Peace Process of having a balanced relationship with the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Military Aid: Defence Equipment

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment his Department has authorised the armed forces to gift to other nations in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: Gifts valued above the MOD's delegated gifting authority (above 100,000 in 2004-05 and above 250,000 from August 2006 onwards) have been approved by Parliament through a departmental minute are set out as follows.
	We also publish some details of such gifts in the note on losses and special payments in our Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House and which are available on line in the MOD's Freedom of Information Publication Scheme at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/AnnualReports/
	A fully comprehensive list of gifts could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Surplus assets are normally disposed of through sale to secure the best value for the taxpayer. Where surplus assets are disposed of as gifts, this must produce a positive benefit for the MOD or UK security interests.
	 2008-09
	There have been no parliamentary approved gifts in this year.
	 2007-08
	49 critical Jaguar spares and a Challenger 2 tank Loader Drill Trainer to the Government of Oman. (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 24 April 2007).
	15 Up-armoured light protected vehicles (High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and a support package to the Government of Afghanistan. (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 10 July 2007).
	25 field ambulances to the Government of Afghanistan. (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 4 March 2008).
	 2006-07
	Infrastructure construction projects and equipment to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 18 April 2006), comprising:
	Iraq Police Service (IPS) Emergency Battalion HQ and Barracks, Al Muthanna.
	Department for Border Enforcement (DBE) Commando Emergency Battalion Barracks, Basrah.
	Collocated Department for Border Enforcement/Facilities Protection Services HQ precinct.
	90 Dskha 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (10 for Iraqi Army Rapid Reaction Company and 80 for DBE) with ancillaries.
	6,300 9 mm pistols for IPS, with ancillaries.
	85 PKC medium machine guns (50 for IPS and 35 for DBE) with ancillaries.
	12 Dragunov sniper rifles, with ancillaries.
	20,500 helmets (13,000 for IPS and 7,500 for DBE).
	14,500 pairs of boots (for IPS).
	Up to 50 type 110 Land Rovers and a support package for the Government of Lebanon. (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 9 October 2006).
	Non-lethal military equipment to the Government of Nepal (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 12 February 2007), comprising:
	Two Revolution wheelbarrows.
	One Cyclops wheelbarrow spares package.
	Seven explosive ordinance disposal disrupters and 35 boxes of cartridges.
	One Mk7B spares package.
	One Mk7B Training package.
	10 bomb suits and helmets.
	80 de-mining vests and helmets.
	10 metal detectors.
	20 Cable detectors.
	10 firing cables.
	10 firing devices.
	One service support package.
	One training visit.
	Five sets of IT equipment.
	Shipping costs.
	500,000 cash gift to the Government of Afghanistan to allow them to equip an Afghan Territorial Force in Helmand province. (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 30 October 2006).
	Non-lethal equipment to the Palestinian Presidential Guard (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 8 February 2007), comprising:
	Helmets.
	Portable accommodation.
	Field lighting.
	Communications equipment.
	Body armour.
	Vehicles.
	Infrastructure assets at Camp Smitty in Al Muthanna, and at Camp Driftwood in Basrah Province to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 21 June 2006), comprising:
	Accommodation.
	Ablutions.
	Dining facilities.
	Various force protection defences (watchtowers etc.).
	Infrastructure assets at Camp Abu Naji in Maysan Province to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 28 June 2006), comprising:
	Accommodation.
	Ablutions.
	Dining facilities.
	Various force protection defences (watchtowers etc.).
	 2005-06
	Military equipment and infrastructure to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 11 January 2006), comprising:
	Tactical Support Unit (TSU) construction, Maysan.
	Police Station construction, Al Amarah, Maysan.
	Department of Border Enforcement (DBE) Provincial HQ construction, Maysan.
	DBE Provincial HQ construction, Al Muthanna.
	Iraqi Police Service (IPS) Academy extension construction, Al Muthanna.
	TSU expansion construction, Basrah.
	Rapid Reaction Company Barracks construction, Basrah.
	Refurbishment of five police stations, Basrah.
	Warren site utilities and building refurbishment, Basrah.
	'Ring of Steel' permanent vehicle check points, Basrah.
	Refurbishment of five police stations, Al Muthanna.
	415 IPS patrol cars.
	319 IPS 4x4 patrol cars.
	734 Motorola GM160 VHP radios with microphone and antenna (including delivery to Shaibah Logistics Base).
	Military equipment and infrastructure to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 12 October 2005), comprising:
	Barracks for 10th Division Iraqi Army HQ near Az Zubayr.
	Barracks for 3/1/10 Battalion (on the same sight).
	Iraqi Army Central Issues Facility (storehouse) at Shaibah.
	211 pick-up vehicles.
	12 water trucks.
	9 Flat-bed trucks.
	211 high-frequency radios.
	16 high frequency base station fixed installation kits.
	Networked data/voice capability (Local Area Network).
	475,182 Operational Ration Packs to the Government of the United States of America following Hurricane Katrina. (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 6 February 2006).
	Non-lethal military equipment to the Government of Nepal (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 25 May 2005replaced withdrawn proposal originally notified on 20 January 2005), comprising:
	Two Revolution wheelbarrows.
	Two Cyclops wheelbarrows.
	12 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) disrupters and 200 boxes of cartridges.
	4 Recoilless EOD disrupters and 100 boxes of cartridges.
	10 mini electronic exploders.
	Five metal detectors.
	Four EBEX wire detectors.
	One spectrum analyser.
	One set of IT equipment.
	10 sets of digital photography equipment.
	Two EOD vans.
	 2004-05
	Military equipment to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 10 November 2004), comprising:
	3,200 AK47 assault rifles.
	2 million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.
	4,200 sets of body armour.
	2,500 helmets.
	1,000 sets of public order equipment including riot shields, helmets with visors, leather gloves, shin and knee protectors, flame retardant overalls and batons.
	Military equipment and infrastructure to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 2 December 2004), comprising:
	3,300 AK 47s.
	3,300,000 rounds of 7.62 ammunition.
	20,858 sets of body armour.
	7,444 Kevlar helmets.
	1,000 sets of public order equipment, including helmets, batons, shields, knee and elbow guards etc.
	308 HF Radios.
	992 Binoculars.
	69 GPS.
	42 GPS with radio.
	12 sets of urban operations equipment.
	Iraq National Guard divisional maintenance facility for armoured personnel carriers.
	4 ranges.
	4 provincial logistic support centres for the Iraqi Police Service (IPS).
	3 provincial HQs for the Department of Border Enforcement.
	Buildings for specialist IPS facilities, such as a forensic lab and a ballistics lab.
	Medical stores.
	Refurbishment of 24 boats.
	Military equipment and infrastructure to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 15 December 2004), comprising:
	450,000 rounds of AK47 blank ammunition for training purposes.
	500,000 of PKM (light machine gun) blank ammunition for training purposes.
	438 under slung grenade launchers (UGL) for AK 47s.
	18,400 UGL rounds.
	36,800 UGL training rounds.
	5666 9mm pistols.
	3000 personal radio handsets.
	50 operations room radios.
	200 vehicle radios.
	Non-lethal military equipment to the Government of Sierra Leone, comprising a communications system and three batches of Troop Carrying Vehicles (Bedford 4 tonne equivalents). (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 23 June 2004).
	622.385 tonnes of 120mm Challenger 1 tank ammunition to the Government of Jordan. (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 12 October 2004).
	Non-lethal military equipment to the Palestinian Authority, comprising Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) protective clothing, EOD detection and disruption equipment, IT equipment and four 4x4 vehicles equipped for EOD. (Notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 20 December 2004).
	Non-lethal military equipment to the Government of Nepal (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 6 May 2004), comprising:
	Two Short Take off and Landing BN2T Islander aircraft.
	425 ICOM UHF radios and accessories.
	10 base stations and 50 repeater stations.
	Wheelbarrow MK8 Plus II explosive ordinance disposal unit.
	Wheelbarrow Mk7 spares.
	Bomb disposal equipment including 6 disposal suits, 1000 cartridges L2A1, 1000 midi cartridges, 6 electronic exploders and 4 x-ray machines.
	Ordnance search equipment including, cable avoidance tools, metal detectors, portable searchlights, infra red filters, search soda breads, endoscope search kits, rechargeable heavy duty combi drills and ultrasonic thickness gauges.
	Military equipment to the Government of Iraq (notified to the House of Commons in a departmental minute of 25 January 2005), comprising:
	79 refurbished armoured Penman Hotspur Land Rovers.
	2 luggage x-ray machines, 3 archway metal detectors, 27 hand-held metal detectors and 15 under vehicle search mirrors.
	774 medium machine guns (PKMs), 5 million rounds of ammunition for PKMs and 1150 light machine guns (RPKs).

Navy: Drug Seizures

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what drug seizures were made by Royal Navy vessels since 1997; where the seizures took place; what the value of each seizure was; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department published its report on Future Radioactive Waste Management Capability, RWMF/URD/001; and what representations have been received on the report since that date.

Quentin Davies: The Future Radioactive Waste Management CapabilityUser Requirement Document was published within the Department in August 2008 and was provided to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in September 2008.
	No representations have been received on the report since it was issued.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much liquid radioactive waste has been discharged into the sea loch at Faslane in each year since it first hosted Polaris nuclear submarines; and whether he has received recent representations from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency on the matter.

Quentin Davies: Officials are currently in the process of collating the information held by the Department; I will write to the hon. Member once this work is complete.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recommendations in the report Assessment of Arrangements to Comply with Best Practicable Means for the Handling, Movement, Processing, Storage and Disposal of Radioactive Waste at HM Naval Base Clyde, Faslane have been complied with; and upon what data his assessment is based.

Quentin Davies: An internal assessment of the report was completed by officials at HMNB Clyde during March 2009. The majority of the recommendations arising from the report have now been implemented and we expect that outstanding issues will be addressed by the end of September 2009. Officials continue to work with the various regulatory authorities to ensure they are content with the work that is being undertaken.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken at HM Naval Base Clyde to ensure that requirements on waste prevention and minimisation have been incorporated into waste generation procedures and training at the base.

Quentin Davies: Waste generation is always considered during the planning of any nuclear work, and efforts are made to minimise the rate of production and the quantity of waste produced. Initial and refresher training is provided to both submarine and base staff that specifically addresses the requirement to prevent and reduce radioactive waste. Waste disposals from HM Naval Base Clyde continue to be well below the agreed disposal limits.

Somalia: Piracy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy personnel of each rank are stationed in the Gulf of Aden.

Bob Ainsworth: The breakdown by rank of Royal Navy personnel who are stationed or whose tasking may require them to be stationed in the Gulf of Aden is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Rank  Number 
			 Captain (RN) 1 
			 Commander 3 
			 Lieutenant Commander 8 
			 Lieutenant 15 
			 Captain (RM) 1 
			 Sub-Lieutenant 2 
			 Warrant Officer 4 
			 Chief Petty Officer 21 
			 Colour Sergeant (RM) 1 
			 Petty Officer 33 
			 Sergeant (RM) 1 
			 Leading Hand 43 
			 Lance Corporal (RM) 3 
			 Able Rate 79 
			 Corporal (RM) 1 
			 Marine (RM) 5

Special Reconnaissance Regiment: Northern Ireland

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment  (a) have served in Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months and  (b) are serving there.

Bob Ainsworth: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely, to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Special Forces.

Submarines

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what locations will be included in the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Submarine Dismantling Project; what timetable he has set for the conduct of the assessment; and against what criteria the assessment will be made.

Quentin Davies: The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) will consider location options for both the submarine dismantling facility and the interim storage of the resulting Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW). In both cases, the SEA proposes to consider the following types of location:
	(i) Conduct activity at a Green-Field (not previously developed) location;
	(ii) Conduct activity at a Brown-Field (previously developed) location; and
	(iii) Conduct activity at an existing nuclear licensed/ authorised location.
	It is the intention for the SEA report to be completed before spring 2010, following a period of public consultation.
	Assessment will be made against the criteria detailed in EU Directive 2001/42/EC 'On the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment' and the 'Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No 1633)'. It should be noted that the latter document normally applies only to England but, in line with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now Department for Communities and Local Government) guidance, is also applicable to those activities with a UK-wide remit.

Warships: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required and  (b) actual manning strength for each (i) frigate and (ii) destroyer in the Royal Navy is.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 13 November 2007,  Official Report, column 127W and on 4 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1257W.